In this review, we will discuss the structure and perspective of ADAMTS-12 and focus on its roles and the underlying mechanisms in arthritis (especially osteoarthritis) and other diseases, including inflammation, tumorigenesis and antiangiogenesis, intervertebral disc degenerative disease, schizophrenia, gonad differentiation, trophoblast invasion, and pediatric stroke (Figure 1). This evidence concerns the gene ADAMTS12 and arthritic joint disease.