Assessment of gelatinase expression and activity in articular cartilage

Two methods for the assessment of the expression of gelatinases A and B, MMP-2 and MMP-9, in articular cartilage are described. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections provides information about the precise localization of the enzymes within the tissue, pinpointing the cells that synthesize the proteinases, and zymography of cell/ tissue conditioned culture media allows a semi-quantitative assessment of the gelatinases and their activation status.