Meanwhile, adiponectin, presenting lower levels in obesity [25], has a protective role in the articulations by upregulating in chondrocytes the expression of tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) and IL-10, and preventing cartilage deterioration by the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) [26]. Here, MMP3 is linked to Obesity.