Cleavage of aggrecan at the Asn341-Phe342 site coincides with the initiation of collagen damage in murine antigen-induced arthritis: A pivotal role for stromelysin 1 in matrix metalloproteinase activity

Abstract

This study emphasizes that SLN-1 is essential in the induction of MMP-specific aggrecan and collagen cleavage sites during AIA. It suggests that SLN-1 is not a dominant enzyme in PG breakdown, but that it activates procollagenases and is crucial in the initiation of collagen damage.