The collagenases: are they tractable targets for preventing cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis?

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The etiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) have been intensely investigated; however, the disease course and progression are not completely understood. A prominent role for interstitial collagenases is recognized in this degenerative process; hence, strategies to target them are of major interest.

Areas covered

The pathogenesis of OA, the role of interstitial collagenases (MMP-1, −8, and −13), and collagenase modifying drugs are examined and discussed. We reviewed relevant papers from PubMed and Google Scholar.

Expert opinion

There is strong evidence for the therapeutic potential of MMP inhibitors in OA; however, they are not expected to impact the inflammatory process. Therefore, there is a need for a relative inhibitor of MMP-13 collagenase, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The identification of novel broad-spectrum relative to multiple peptidase inhibitors could provide desirable tools for the prophylaxis, cure, or treatment of diseases involving articular cartilage (AC) degradation, in particular OA.

KEYWORDS:

• Aggrecan
• articular cartilage
• cathepsin K
• collagenases
• matrix metalloproteinase osteoarthritis
• therapeutic targets
• timing of treatment

Abbreviations

OAOsteoarthritis

ACArticular cartilage

MMPMatrix metalloproteinase

ECMExtra cellular matrix

TLRToll-like receptors

NONitric oxide

SMSynovial membrane

ILInterleukin

TNFTumor necrosis factor

ACLAnterior cruciate ligament

TIMPTissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase

ADAMTSA disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs

LRP-1Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1

BMBasement membrane

MAPKMitogen-activated protein kinases

MSS Musculoskeletal syndrome

Disclosure statement

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

All authors have contributed to design of the work; analysis, drafting the work, and revising it critically for important intellectual content; and have given final approval of the version to be published; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Declarations of interest

Salarusta Ltd has filed a patent application in which the authors are named as inventors, the patent application covers the use of a substance on a treatment of arthritis. The authors have an ownership interest in Salarusta Oy. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants, or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Article highlights

• OA is a complex multifactorial degenerative disease whose etiology is not yet elucidated. Current treatments can alleviate symptoms of OA, but there is an urgent need for a disease modifying treatment that can slow down its progression.

• Early recognition and prevention are the key elements in the prevention of further articular cartilage (AC) damage. Radiological and other markers to detect the different progressive stages of OA are needed.

• Collagenase activation is a crucial control point for cartilage breakdown; however, our understanding of the proteinases involved is insufficient.

• Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is a key collagenase that promotes the irreversible destruction of cartilage collagen in OA.

• Collagenase inhibitors are, in theory, capable of tackling the disease to cease its destructive progression.

• A broad-spectrum semi-selective MMP proteinase activity inhibitor could be a suitable option to control and potentially cease OA progression. Potentially, it could alleviate symptoms which increases compliance towards treating this chronic burden.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.