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Aggrecanase and aggrecan degradation in osteoarthritis: a review
1Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of the Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Aggrecanase-mediated aggrecan degradation is a significant event in early-stage osteoarthritis (OA). Aggrecanases belonging to the 'A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin motifs' (ADAMTS) family of proteinases play a significant role in aggrecan depletion in osteoarthritic cartilage. There has been considerable interest in the possible role of these aggrecanases, especially ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5, as therapeutic targets in OA. This article discusses recent data regarding ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 in OA, with emphasis on the relationship between aggrecanase and aggrecan degradation as well as the role of aggrecanase in OA.
