title: Biomarkers in osteoarthritis.
abstract: Biomarkers aid the study of osteoarthritis (OA) in a number of different ways. In this article we summarise briefly their multiple uses and reflect on how the study reported in a previous edition of Arthritis Research & Therapy should promote further investigation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). COMP is foremost among hitherto investigated biomarkers and is most consistently shown to predict knee OA progression. Precisely what role it plays in OA pathogenesis remains unclear and elucidating this may be key to defining, and then targeting, the cellular pathways involved in OA.
authors.forename: Frances M K
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; C577553:TSP5 protein, human