Activated gelatinase-B (MMP-9) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator in synovial fluids of patients with arthritis. Correlation with clinical and experimental variables of inflammation.

Abstract

Our data suggest that the presence of gelatinase-B is a reflection of the inflammatory condition of the joints of patients with arthritis, and that the activation of gelatinase-B in the joints, which may occur in a u-PA/plasmin dependent and/or a stromelysin dependent way, contributes to the progression of arthritis.