title: Elucidation of the potential roles of matrix metalloproteinases in skeletal biology.
abstract: Irreversible destruction of joint structures is a major feature of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibrillar collagens in bone, cartilage and other soft tissues are critical for optimal joint form and function. Several approaches can be used to ascertain the role of collagenases, matrix metalloproteinases, in proteolysis of joint collagens in arthritis. These approaches include identifying spontaneous genetic disorders of the enzymes and substrates in humans and animals, as well as engineering mutations in the genes that encode these proteins in mice. Insights gained from such studies can be used to design new therapies to interrupt these catabolic events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. krane.stephen@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Krane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000201:enzymology; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D017364:Collagenases / Q000502:physiology; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D017364:Collagenases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases