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Objectives. To investigate whether maintaining the chondrocyte’s native pericellular matrix prevents collagen-induced up-regulation of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and whether integrin α1 (ITGα1) and/or discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) modulate MMP-13 expression and which signalling pathway plays a role in collagen-stimulated MMP-13 expression.Methods. Goat articular chondrocytes and chondrons were cultured on collagen coatings. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotides targeted against ITGα1 and DDR2 were transfected into primary chondrocytes. Chemical inhibitors for mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1) (PD98059), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) (FAK inhibitor 14), mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (JNK) (SP600125) and protein kinase C (PKC) (PKC412), and a calcium chelator (BAPTA-AM) were used in cell cultures. Real-time PCR was performed to examine gene expression levels of MMP-13, ITGα1 and DDR2 and collagenolytic activity was determined by measuring the amount of hydroxyproline released in the culture medium.Results. Maintaining the chondrocyte’s native pericellular matrix prevented MMP-13 up-regulation and collagenolytic activity when the cells were cultured on a collagen coating. Silencing of ITGα1 and DDR2 reduced MMP-13 gene expression and collagenolytic activity by primary chondrocytes cultured on collagen. Incubation with the PKC inhibitor strongly reduced MMP-13 gene expression levels. Gene expression levels of MMP-13 were also decreased by chondrocytes incubated with the MEK, FAK or JNK inhibitor.Conclusion. Maintaining the native pericellular matrix of chondrocytes prevents collagen-induced up-regulation of MMP-13. Both ITGα1 and DDR2 modulate MMP-13 expression after direct contact between chondrocytes and collagen. PKC, FAK, MEK and JNK are involved in collagen-stimulated expression of MMP-13. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]