Lecticans are a family of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, encompassing aggrecan,
versican, neurocan and brevican. These proteoglycans are characterized by the presence of …

Hyaline cartilage contains five well‐characterized proteoglycans in its extracellular matrix,
and it is likely that others exist. The largest in size and most abundant by weight is aggrecan …

We purified, cloned, and expressed aggrecanase, a protease that is thought to be
responsible for the degradation of cartilage aggrecan in arthritic diseases. Aggrecanase-1 [a …

The loss of extracellular matrix macromolecules from the cartilage results in serious
impairment of joint function. Metalloproteinases called'aggrecanases' that cleave the Glu …

To examine the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanase in control
and diseased human articular cartilage, metabolic fragments of aggrecan were detected …

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent disease affecting more than 20% of American adults.
Predispositions include joint injury, heredity, obesity, and aging. Biomechanical alterations …

Degradation of the large cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan in arthritis involves an unidentified
enzyme aggrecanase, and at least one of the matrix metalloproteinases. Proteinase …

Objective. To determine the proteolytic fragmentation patterns and N‐terminal sequence of
aggrecan fragments in human synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory arthritides, joint …

Introduction Cleavage of aggrecan between residues Glu373–Ala374, which is believed to
be a key event in aggrecan destruction in arthritic diseases, has been attributed to an …

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder characterized by breakdown of articular
cartilage. Degradation of aggrecan, which together with type II collagen provides cartilage …