Biochemical aspects of osteoarthritis

The development of new technologies in the fields of cellular and molecular biology is contributing significantly to the understanding of the disease processes involved in the development and progression of human osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, the relationships between enzyme degradative pathways are becoming increasingly clear. Two prominent metalloenzymes and the specific tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase have been studied in humans and animal models. Results indicate that such enzyme pathways may play a significant role in the degenerative tissue changes observed in OA.