miR-23a inhibits interleukin-17 (IL-17)-induced NF-κB activation by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in chondrocytes from RA patients, thereby alleviating cartilage matrix degradation and joint structure destruction 29. Here, MMP3 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.