title: Role of chemokines/chemokine receptor systems in cartilage degradation.
abstract: The underlying mechanism of the degradation of articular cartilage is an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic pathways, which are under the control of cytokines. Chemokines are a novel class of small cytokines and have a wide range of effects in many different cell types, both inside and outside of the immune system. Their actions are mediated by a family of 7-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors. Recent studies have demonstrated that chondrocytes co-express chemokines and their receptors, and that the interaction of chemokines with their receptors results in the release of cartilage matrix-degrading proteinases, and affect proteoglycan metabolism in chondrocytes. These data reveal a catabolic pathway primed by chemokine/chemokine receptor system in articular cartilage, thus proposing a novel therapeutic approach against cartilage destruction in arthropathy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuko-Hongo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioka