How are cartilage glutathione and MMP13 connected?
Oxidative stress is one of the signals that switches on MMP13, the enzyme that cuts cartilage collagen. In cells from healthy human cartilage, hydrogen peroxide raised MMP13 and lowered SOX9 (Rong 2019). Supporting the cell's glutathione had the opposite effect in animal studies: oral NAC held back MMP13 in rats (Kaneko 2019), and dihydrolipoic acid held it back in mice (Chen 2026).
The trigger
A University of Auckland study treated cells from macroscopically normal human cartilage with hydrogen peroxide, the inflammatory signal IL-1β or calcium crystals. Each one lowered SOX9 and raised MMP13 and ADAMTS5, the enzymes that break down cartilage collagen and aggrecan (Rong 2019).
The defence
In rats, NAC by mouth inhibited MMP13 expression and the loss of type II collagen (Kaneko 2019). In mice, dihydrolipoic acid inhibited the rise in MMP13, MMP3 and ADAMTS5 and protected glutathione and GPX4 (Chen 2026).
One system, three jobs
Gluthanol™ is the Nourish technology in a 3-in-1 joint system. MMP13 Cartilage Technology™ is the Soothe technology, built around keeping the enzyme in check, and a third technology looks after the joint fluid. Gluthanol supports the cell's own antioxidant defence against one of MMP13's triggers. The science of MMP13 itself is at mmp13.com.
Other questions people ask
Does lowering oxidative stress always lower MMP13?
Not necessarily. MMP13 has several triggers, including inflammation and calcium crystals (Rong 2019). Oxidative stress is one of them.
Sources
- Rong J, Zhu M, Munro J et al. Altered expression of the core circadian clock component PERIOD2 contributes to osteoarthritis-like changes in chondrocyte activity. Chronobiol Int 2019.
- Kaneko Y, Tanigawa N, Sato Y et al. Oral administration of N-acetyl cysteine prevents osteoarthritis development and progression in a rat model. Sci Rep 2019.
- Chen Y, Fang J, Zhou Z et al. Dihydrolipoic acid suppresses ferroptosis in chondrocytes to ameliorate the progression of osteoarthritis by modulating the FOXO1/TXNIP signaling pathway. Free Radic Biol Med 2026.
Read next
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Oxidative stress is when a cell makes more reactive oxygen species than its antioxidants can clear. In cartilage it disrupts the cells' signalling and contributes to...
What does N-acetylcysteine (NAC) do in cartilage?
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a stable source of cysteine, the building block whose supply most limits how much glutathione a cell can make ((Lu 2013)). In cartilage cells...
What is Gluthanol™?
Gluthanol™ is a proprietary blend of N-acetylcysteine, L-glycine, L-glutamine and alpha-lipoic acid, built to supply the raw materials cartilage cells make glutathione...