title: Articular cartilage and changes in arthritis: matrix degradation.
abstract: While many proteases in articular cartilage have been described, current studies indicate that members of two families of metalloproteases - MMPs and the ADAMTSs - are responsible for the degradation of the major components of this tissue. Collagenases (MMPs) make the first cleavage in triple-helical collagen, allowing its further degradation by other proteases. Aggrecanases (ADAMTSs), in conjunction with other MMPs, degrade aggrecan, a component of the proteoglycan aggregate. Antineoepitope antibodies that recognize the cleavage products of collagen and aggrecan generated by these enzymes are now available and are being used to detect the sites of action and to quantitate degradation products.
authors.affiliation: Joint Diseases Laboratory, Shriners Hospital for Children, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. jmort@shriners.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mort
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Billington
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000201:enzymology*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C083641:aggrecanase