MMP3 and arthritic joint disease: On the other hand, although the exact mechanism of arthritis varies in different rheumatic diseases, a large amount of common cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-17, and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), mediates the process of joint inflammation [39–42].