Loss of Mutual Protection between Human Osteoclasts and Chondrocytes in Damaged Joints Initiates Osteoclast-Mediated Cartilage Degradation by MMPs

Researchers suggested that bone-resident osteoclasts and chondrocytes exerted mutually protective effects on their ‘native’ tissue. However, when osteoclasts contacted non-native cartilage, they caused degradation via matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).