title: The minor collagens in articular cartilage.
abstract: Articular cartilage is a connective tissue consisting of a specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) that dominates the bulk of its wet and dry weight. Type II collagen and aggrecan are the main ECM proteins in cartilage. However, little attention has been paid to less abundant molecular components, especially minor collagens, including type IV, VI, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV, etc. Although accounting for only a small fraction of the mature matrix, these minor collagens not only play essential structural roles in the mechanical properties, organization, and shape of articular cartilage, but also fulfil specific biological functions. Genetic studies of these minor collagens have revealed that they are associated with multiple connective tissue diseases, especially degenerative joint disease. The progressive destruction of cartilage involves the degradation of matrix constituents including these minor collagens. The generation and release of fragmented molecules could generate novel biochemical markers with the capacity to monitor disease progression, facilitate drug development and add to the existing toolbox for in vitro studies, preclinical research and clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark. yyl@nordicbio.com.|Faculty of Healthy and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. yyl@nordicbio.com.
authors.forename: Yunyun
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4515-5888
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Sciences, Medical Faculty, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Dovile
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinkeviciute
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karsdal
authors.affiliation: Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, Institute of Pathology, Level 5, Arthropole Liège, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henrotin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.|Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis, Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mobasheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Medical Faculty, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Önnerfjord
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bay-Jensen
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D015415:Biomarkers; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D003094:Collagen
keywords: arthritis; biomarker; collagen