Inflammatory and degenerative disorders of the musculoskeletal system affect an important part of the adult population during ageing. Such degeneration of the musculoskeletal system is a normal biological process which has been observed also in other mammals and the consequence and damage that can cause to people depend on genetic, nutritional, structural, metabolic factors, and so on.

In a normal situation osteoarticular system works under homeostatic or controlled conditions and joint structures are built and destroyed at a rhythm compatible with the person’s activity, metabolic and physiological condition.

Nevertheless, the fundamental matrix renewal and particularly the collagen one is slow. Molecules are continuously synthesized and degraded and sent to the synovial liquid. Science does not know exactly the biochemical causes which lead to the destruction and loss of the molecules extracellular matrix and of the tissue renewal capacity, with the consequent inflammation occurrence and the fundamental substance degeneration.

The matrix destruction is mediated by many proteins as the metalloproteinases (such as collagenase, gelatinase…), which are the main enzymes involved.

The balance among these factors controlled by the chondrocyte is the common final way in which the production or destruction of the cartilage is involved. When this process is not well-balanced and destruction overcomes synthesis inflammation occurs, and with the time collagen degradation and joint degeneration.