Can abrogating low-grade inflammatory responses break the feed-forward cycle of joint damage and breakdown leading to inflammation that promotes the pathogenesis of OA? Examples of risk factors for OA, cell types involved in its pathogenesis, and molecular components in the inflammatory pathways that are potential therapeutic targets for preventing or treating OA are shown. CPB, carboxypeptidase B; DAMPs, disease-associated molecular patterns; NO, nitric oxide; OA, osteoarthritis.