MMP2 and osteoarthritis: Our data are in line with other research that identified CHR-mediated inhibition of pro-fibrotic pathways in rat myocardial injury, renal fibrosis and osteoarthritis, by reducing TGF-β1/Smad3, p38, Erk1/2, MMP2 and PERK/TXNIP/NLRP3 signalling (Rani et al., 2015; Nagavally et al., 2021; Ding et al., 2023).