Human chondrocytes are susceptible to productive human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, AD169 strain) infection. Infection of chondrocytes resulted in pronounced cytopathic effects including cell rounding and aggregation, fusions, and lysis. Immunohistochemical staining reveals that a portion of chondrocytes expressed antigens reactive to monoclonal antibodies against early HCMV proteins. The interaction of HCMV with cartilage cells may be one key for elucidating the etiopathogenesis of articular diseases.