As researchers have identified the existence of both pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins in the human body, they have come to understand that there are numerous types of proteins our bodies produce naturally, including those that fight against joint inflammation and those that directly trigger it.

Certain proteins, such as those classified as cytokines, disintegrins  and proteases, can manifest in forms that are known to either directly stimulate nociceptive sensory neurons, but also irritate chondrocytes (cartilage cells) making them a major cause of not only inflammation, but the continuous presence of joint pain and cartilage erosion, as well.

However, inflammatory proteins are intended to be mediated by the existence of anti-inflammatory proteins, which play a significant part in keeping the body heathy and alleviating joint pain resulting from inflammatory proteins. In particular, the protein known as alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) is one of the largest naturally developed proteins your body generates, and its chief responsibility is to combat other harmful chemicals, proteins, and enzymes that can cause inflammation and tissue erosion when present in large quantities around the joints.

One of the most common causes of joint pain is the development of unbalanced proteins within the joints that accumulate, create discomfort, and destroy cartilage.

As a naturally occurring plasma glycoprotein, the A2M protein systematically eliminates these de-stabilizing molecules to restore the chemical harmonization of your body and protect both your tissue and cartilage from inflammatory protein-induced destruction.

After it’s generated in the liver, the A2M protein flows throughout your bloodstream, transported in plasma. It makes its way into the joint via a complex mechanism. When the A2M protein encounters other harmful, unbalanced types of proteins, it traps them and transports them out of the joint and then the body. When your body is functionally healthy, this process occurs naturally and regularly to assist in limiting instances of joint pain and deterring the destruction of cartilage.

Though there may be several factors that cause joint pain, inflammation of the joints tends to be linked to low amounts of the A2M protein in the joint, which can occur for a few different reasons. Some individuals’ bodies just don’t do a good job pushing A2M into the joint to protect it. In others, the catabolic process overwhelms the ability of the surrounding tissue (synovium) to get enough A2M into the joint itself. This impedes the body’s ability to reach, capture, and eliminate the proteins causing toxicity to the cartilage. In addition, as the human body grows older, the amount of A2M getting into the joint often is not enough to stem the tide of the metabolic process of aging or joint responses to trauma. In these cases, an impacted individual can benefit from a therapeutic injection of the A2M protein into the joints, which can reduce the inflammation and alleviate symptoms of discomfort.