For years, osteoarthritis has been regarded as a consequence of wear and tear on the joints. It has also been considered a non-inflammatory type of arthritis. But, an article published online November 6, 2011 in Nature Medicine explained that cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis is partly a result of dysregulation of the complement system. The complement system is a complex set of blood proteins which are part of the body's immune system. The proteins are inactive until an antibody binds to an antigen and activates the complement system. The system produces factors which help destroy bacteria and combat invaders with white cells.
Researchers believe that initial damage to the affected joint provokes a chain of molecular events, ultimately bringing on a full-blown attack on the damaged joint by the complement system. Essentially, complement is activated in human osteoarthritic joints, stimulating production of inflammatory mediators and enzymes that damage cartilage.
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