Biomarker Portfolio

Serum/plasma level of type II collagen formation, PRO-C2, may be an objective indicator of a low cartilage repair endotype, displaying radiographic progression and superior response to a proanabolic drug.

A hallmark of OA is loss of cartilage; however, it is evident that the rate of cartilage loss differs among patients, which may partly be attributed to differential capacity for cartilage repair. We hypothesize that a low cartilage repair endotype exists and that such endotypes are more likely to progress radiographically. We used the blood-based marker PRO-C2, reflecting type II collagen formation, to assess levels of cartilage formation.

The type II collagen propeptide PRO-C2 was measured in the serum/plasma of knee OA subjects from New York University (NYU,

In both the NYU and SMC cohorts, subjects with low PRO-C2 levels had greater JSN compared with subjects with high PRO-C2. Mean difference in JSN between subjects with very low and high levels of PRO-C2 was 0.65 mm (p = 0.002), corresponding to a 3.4 (1.4-8.6)-fold higher risk of progression. There was no significant effect of sCT treatment, compared with placebo, on JSN over 2 years before stratification based on baseline PRO-C2. However, there were proportionately fewer progressors in the sCT arm of the very low/low PRO-C2 group compared with the moderate/high group (Chi squared = 6.5, p = 0.011).

• A Novel High Sensitivity Type II Collagen Blood-Based Biomarker, PRO-C2, for Assessment of Cartilage Formation
• Anabolic and catabolic function of chondrocyte ex vivo is reflected by the metabolic processing of type II collagen
• Cartilage turnover reflected by metabolic processing of type II collagen: a novel marker of anabolic function in chondrocytes
• Oestrogen exhibits type II collagen protective effects and attenuates collagen-induced arthritis in rats