Furthermore, based on this data as well as other evidence published from our laboratory [15], we proposed that neutralizing the IL-6-mediated stimulation of chondrocyte MMP-9 with TCZ or administration of an exogenous sIL-6R fusion protein could ultimately become another medical strategy for suppressing articular cartilage ECM protein degradation in OA or RA. Here, IL6 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.