Review Article

Molecular and Cellular Pathways Contributing to Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 3

MMPs, ADAMTS, and TIMPs in arthritis pathogenesis.

Enzymes/inhibitorsCategoryEnzymesSourcesTargetsMajor functions

Metalloproteinases
 MMP-1CollagenasesCollagenase-1, interstitial collagenaseMonocyte, fibroblast, smooth muscle cell, chondrocyte, macrophage, endothelial cell, and keratinocyteCollagens (I–III, VII, VIII, and X), gelatin, aggrecan, L-selectin, IL-1β, entactin, ovostatin, MMP-2, and MMP-9Releases MMP-9, promotes Akt dephosphorylation, degrades collagens I, II, II, III, VI, and IX and proteoglycans [66, 67].
 MMP-2GelatinasesGelatinase-A, 72 KDa gelatinaseSynoviocyte, CD34+ vascular endothelial cells, CD68+ macrophage, CD14+ monocyte, and stromal cellGelatin, collagens I, III, IV–VII, IX and X, Laminin, elastin, Fibronectin, proteoglycan, pro-MMP-13Increases VEGF expression and angiogenesis, promotes angiogenesis and directs degradation of cartilage matrix.
 MMP-3StromelysinsStromelysin-1FLS, chondrocyte, synovial lining cell, endothelial cellCollagens (III–V and IX), gelatin, aggrecan, perlecan, decorin, laminin, elastin, casein, osteonectin, ovostatin, entactin, plasminogen, MBP, IL-1β, MMP-2, TIMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-13, proteoglycans, and fibronectinDegrades cartilage connexin, fibronectin, and major components of cartilage such as collagen type IV, VII, IX, and XI, activates collagenase secreted by synoviocytes, directly destroys cartilage tissue, activates interstitial collagenase, and promotes the formation of vasospasm [68].
 MMP-8CollagenasesCollagenase-2, neutrophil collagenaseNeutrophil, plasma cell, fibroblast, dentin cell, endothelial cell, bronchial epithelial cell, keratinocyte, and macrophageCollagens (I–III, V, VII, VIII, and X), gelatin, aggrecan, and fibronectinDegrades type I, II, and III collagens, activates MMP-2 and MMP-3, regulates the activity of TNF-α, IL-1β, and T cell membrane proteins CD2, CD4, and CD8.
 MMP-9GelatinasesGelatinase-B, 92 kDa gelatinaseMonocyte, synoviocyte, CD34+ vascular endothelial cell, CD68+ macrophage, and neutrophilCollagens (IV, V, VII, X, and XIV), gelatin, entactin, aggrecan, elastin, fibronectin, osteonectin, plasminogen, MBP, and IL-1βParticipates in the degradation of ECM including types IV and V collagen, proteoglycans, elastin, and gelatin and in ECM remodeling.
 MMP-10StromelysinsStromelysin-2FLS, chondrocyte, and osteoblast,Collagens (III–V), gelatin, casein, aggrecan, elastin, MMP-1, and MMP-8Activates MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 and 13 prototypes, enhances the dissolution of cartilage collagen by activating procollagenases, and enhances cartilage collagen lysis caused by IL-1 and oncostatin M.
 MMP-12Other enzymesMacrophage metalloelastaseMacrophage, monocyte, and chondrocyteCollagen IV, gelatin, elastin, casein, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, entactin, fibrinogen, fibrin, and plasminogenDegrades type IV collagen, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, proteoglycan, chondroitin sulfate, and myelin basic protein and activates MMP-2 and MMP-3.
 MMP-13 (interstitial collagenase)CollagenasesCollagenase-3Chondrocyte, FLS, and macrophageCollagens (I–IV, IX, X, and XIV), gelatin, plasminogen, aggrecan, perlecan, fibronectin, osteonectin, and MMP-9Degrades collagen fibers of types I, II, III, V, and XI as well as basement membrane proteoglycans.
 MMP-14MT-MMPMT1-MMP, MT-MMP-1Macrophage, myeloid cell, FLS, and CD68+ osteoclastCollagens (I–III), gelatin, casein, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, entactin, proteoglycans, and MMP-2 and 13Promotes FLS to invade cartilage. MT1-MMP degrades collagen types I, II, and III, laminin-1 and laminin-5, fibronectin, vitronectin, fibrin, and aggrecan, and activates pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-13 on the cell surface [69, 70].

ADAMTS [71, 72]
 ADAMTS-1AggrecanasesMETH-1, Aggrecanase-3Chondrocyte, macrophageAggrecan, versicanCleaves the proteoglycan versican.
 ADAMTS-4AggrecanasesAggrecanase-1FLS, chondrocyteAggrecan, crevican, COMP, decorin, fibromodulin, and versicanCleaves aggrecan.
 ADAMTS-5AggrecanasesAggrecanase-2, ADAMTS-11FLS, stromal cellAggrecanCleaves aggrecan.
 ADAMTS-7NoneADAMTS-7BFLS, chondrocyteCOMP, α2MDegrades cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP).
 ADAMTS-9NoneKIAA1312FLSAggrecan, versicanDegrades aggrecan and has the potential to cleave other cartilage molecules.
 ADAMTS-12NoneNoneFLS, chondrocyteAggrecan, COMP, and α2MDegrades COMP.

Inhibitors
 TIMP-1GlycoproteinNoneMacrophage, connective tissue cell, chondrocyte, FLS, T cell, and monocyteMMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-14, MMP-16, MMP-19, MMP-24, ADAM10, and pro-MMP-9Weak inhibition of MMP-14, MMP-16, MMP-19, and MMP-24 and ADAM10. Inhibits pro-MMP interactions with pro-MMP-9, formation of synovial blood vessels, activation of MMP-3 and 9, and synovial vascular invasion in RA.
 TIMP-2GlycoproteinNoneChondrocyte, FLS, T cell, and monocyteADAM12, pro-MMP-2, and MMP-9Inhibits all the MMPs (prevents overactivation of MMP-9), ADAM12, and pro-MMP interactions with pro-MMP-2.
 TIMP-3GlycoproteinNoneFLS, chondrocyte, macrophage, and monocyteADAM10, ADAM12, ADAM17, ADAM28, and ADAM33; ADAMTS-1-2 and 4-5; pro-MMP-2,9; and MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13Inhibits all the MMPs and ADAM10, ADAM12, ADAM17, ADAM28, and ADAM33; ADAMTS-1, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5, ADAMTS-2 (weak); and pro-MMP interactions with pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-2.
 TIMP-4GlycoproteinNoneFLS, endothelial cell, T cell, and monocyte (less)ADAM17d, ADAM28, and ADAM33 and pro-MMP-2Inhibits most of the MMPs and ADAM17d and ADAM28, ADAM33 (weak), pro-MMP interactions with pro-MMP-2) and development of arthritis.

Abbreviations: ADAMTS: a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs; COMP: cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; GEP: granulin-epithelin precursor; TIMP: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases; vWFCP: von Willebrand factor cleaving protease; α2M: α2-macroglobulin.