The Mechanism of Cartilage Degradation in Osteoarthritic Joints

0 STEOARTHRITIS (OA) is primarily a disorder of cartilage, at least partially caused by neutral proteases. These enzymes are metalloproteinases and include collagenase, gelatinase, and stromelysin (matrix neutral metalloproteinase 3: MMP-3).‘,* Recent studies on cytokines in joint tissues suggest interleukin 1 (IL-l) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) modulate synthesis of metalloproteinase by chondrocytes3’4 and synovial cells.5V6 Interleukin 1 and TNFa! may also be produced by synovial cells7 and chondrocytes.‘*’ Interleukin 6 (IL-6) “J has been detected in synovial fluid’2-‘4 and is also produced by both synovial cells’5U’7 and human articular chondrocytes.18-*’ This study is directed at correlating the distribution of MMP-3 and cytokines in cartilage, synovium, and synovial fluid of human OA.