Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors and Proteoglycan 4 in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints, is the most common form of arthritis in the knee. Total joint arthoplasty is a commonly used treatment for joint degeneration and osteoarthritis, and due to these factors, TJA for hip and knee joints is projected to grow by 137% and 601% between 2005 and 2030. Matrix metalloproteases are enzymes found in the extracellular matrix that cleave matrix components.

Inflammatory Biomarker Profiling in Total Joint Arthroplasty and Its Relevance to Circulating Levels of Lubricin, a Novel Proteoglycan.

Lubricin, also known as proteoglycan 4, acts as an antiadhesive and boundary lubricant to prevent cartilage damage in healthy joints. Following injury, a decrease in synovial fluid (SF) lubricin may lead to secondary osteoarthritis (OA). Inflammatory biomarkers, such as IL-1β and TNF-α, are also implicated in the pathophysiology of OA.