BIOLOGICAL VARIATION OF THE HUMAN AGGRECAN ARGS NEOEPITOPE IN SYNOVIAL FLUID AND SERUM IN EARLY-STAGE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Purpose: In the ongoing search for a successful disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD), a common approach is inhibition of the aggrecanase ADAMTS-5 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5) which has been identified as the key protease in pathological degradation of human aggrecan. To monitor aggrecanase activity, and inhibition thereof, quantification of the aggrecanase generated aggrecan ARGS neoepitope has been used. We here describe the biological variation of the ARGS neoepitope in knee joint fluid and serum between and within individuals with early-stage knee OA, a target population for DMOADs.