Bone Abstracts

Background: Cartilage matrix breakdown in osteoarthritis (OA) is due to mechanical stress and inflammation leading to increased metalloproteinases (MMPs) production. Currently, IL1β is thought to have a major role in this process. IL1β is synthesized as an inactive precursor, which is cleaved into the secreted active form. This maturation process mainly occurs in the inflammasome complex. Inflammasome is constituted by initiators (including NALP3) and adaptor molecul...