[Destruction of the articular cartilage in osteoarthritis]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease characterized by destruction of articular cartilage induced primarily by mechanical stresses to joints. Destruction of the articular cartilage in OA is caused by combination of increased degradation of ECM (extracellular matrix) , decreased production of ECM and chondrocyte death. Members of the MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) and ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) gene families are considered to play a key role in the degradation of cartilage.