FIGURE 9.

Schematic diagram of the effect of SA on cartilage degeneration. IL-1β induces the expression pro-inflammatory factors, including iNOS, COX2, MMPs, and ADAMTS5. IL-1β stimulates the increasing of collagen X, degradation of collagen II and impairment of autophagy. Furthermore, IL-1β functions by activating the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, as shown by, the increase in the level of p-ERK, p-p38, p-JNK, p-IKKα/β, p-p65, and the translocation of p65. However, SA can reverse these effects.