Cartilage Diseases and Arthritis

C2C (Collagend Type II Cleavage), Serum

Analyte: Collagen Type II Cleavage

Specimen Type: Serum

Biological or Clinical Significance: Joint cartilage is composed of a type II collagen-based fibrillar network complexed to proteoglycans. Type II collagen consists of three identical α chains arranged in a triple helix that form fibrils. Small-diameter fibrils are formed pericellulary, while larger fibrils (up to 300 nm in diameter) are formed in the territorial and interterritorial matrix. Between the…

COMP (Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein)

Analyte: Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein

Specimen Type: Serum,EDTA Plasma

Biological or Clinical Significance: Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) is a non-collagen protein in the matrix of articular cartilage (1). COMP has a molecular mass of 434 kDa consisting of five identical disulfide linked subunits. It is most abundant in cartilage, but has been detected in tendons, meniscus and synovial membrane. The function of COMP seems to be to…

CTX-II (Carboxy-Terminal Telepeptides of Type II Collagen), Urine

Analyte: C-Telopeptide Type II Collagen, CartiLaps

Specimen Type: Urine

Biological or Clinical Significance: Bone is constantly undergoing a metabolic process called remodeling. This includes a degradation process, bone resorption, and a building process, bone formation. Crosslinked telopeptides collagens are the products in the remodeling process. While telopeptide of type I collagen accounts about 90% of the organic matrix of bone, the type II collagen is the major organic…

HA (Hyaluronic Acid)

Analyte: Hyaluronic acid

Specimen Type: Serum, EDTA Plasma, Inquire for additional option(s)

Biological or Clinical Significance: Hyaluronic Acid (HA), also known as hyaluronate or hyaluronan, is a glycosaminoglycan – a high molecular weight polysaccharide with an unbranched backbone composed of alternating sequences of β-(1-3)-N-acetylglucosamine moieties. Each dimer is referred to as one unit and has a molecular weight of approximately 450 D. The HA molecule can vary in length from less…

YKL-40

Analyte: YKL-40

Specimen Type: For information on this assay, please contact nexelis.

Biological or Clinical Significance: YKL-40, also known as human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (HC gp-39), is a 40 kilodalton glycoprotein first described in whey secretions of nonlactating cows. Subsequently, its production by chondrocytes, synovial cells, activated macrophages, neutrophils, and osteosarcoma cells has been reported. Though the role of YKL-40 is unknown at present, its pattern of expression and observed associations…