Publications

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS During fibrogenesis, in which excessive remodeling of the extracellular matrix occurs, both the quantity of type VI collagen and levels of matrix metalloproteinases, including MMP-2 and MMP-9, increase significantly. Proteolytic degradation of type VI collagen into small fragments, so-called neo-epitopes, may be specific biochemical marker of liver fibrosis. The aim of […]

Abstract BACKGROUND During fibrogenesis in the liver, in which excessive remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occurs, both the quantity of type III collagen (CO3) and levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-9, increase significantly. MMPs play major roles in ECM remodelling, via their activity in the proteolytic degradation of extracellular macromolecules such as collagens, […]

Abstract Worldwide, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death. Most CVD-related deaths are caused by years of preceding atherogenesis and the extensive development of atherosclerotic plaques, some of which may rupture to cause myocardial infarction. Macrophages are known to have a role in almost all stages of atherosclerosis, by both initiating atherosclerotic plaques […]

Abstract OBJECTIVES Accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and increased matrix-metalloprotease (MMPs) activity are hallmarks of fibrosis. We developed an ELISA for quantification of MMP-9 derived collagen type III (CO3) degradation. DESIGN AND METHODS A monoclonal antibody targeting a specific MMP-9 cleaved fragment of CO3 was used for development of a competitive ELISA. The assay […]

Abstract The aim of this review is to discuss the potential usefulness of novel advances in the class of biochemical markers, neo-epitopes. Neo-epitopes are post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins formed by processes such as protease cleavage, citrullination, nitrosylation, glycosylation and isomerization. Each modification results from a specific local physiological or pathobiologial process. Identification of each […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) involves changes in both bone and cartilage. These processes might be associated under some circumstances. This study investigated correlations between bone and cartilage degradation in patients with OA as a function of sex, Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) score, Body Mass Index (BMI), oral salmon calcitonin (sCT) treatment and diurnal variation. METHODS This study […]

Abstract Aggrecan is one of the first proteins to be depleted from articular cartilage in early osteoarthritis. We investigated the molecular differences between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)- and aggrecanase-mediated aggrecan degradation, as a consequence of their distinct time-dependent degradation profiles. Cartilage degradation was induced by cytokine stimulation in bovine articular cartilage explants and quantified by a […]

Abstract The success in biomedical sciences such as genomics and proteomics is not paralleled in the medical product development methods. The consequence of this is a lack of translation into improved drug safety and efficacy. Therefore the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced the Critical Path Initiative in 2004 to modernize drug development and […]

Abstract Recent disappointments in late stage developments of anti-osteoarthritic drugs have reinforced efforts to develop better biomarkers for application in both the drug development process as well as in the routine management of these patients. Here we provide a brief review of biochemical tests available for the study of tissue turnover in each of the […]

Abstract Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease for which no efficacious medical intervention is yet available. Recent disappointments in late-stage clinical development of disease-modifying osteoarthritic drugs (DMOADs) have precipitated efforts in biomarker discovery aimed at developing an analytical tool box with the potential to improve the clinical development process. In this review, we seek to provide […]