Abstract: Antibody compositions specific for peptides released during arthritic cartilage destruction are provided as reagents for assay of progression of arthritic processes for antibodies, and as diagnostic and prognostic agents. Also provided are methods and kits for this assay.

Abstract: A culture system and method for determining the effect of a test agent on the development, homeostasis or degradation of engineered cartilage tissue. The engineered cartilage tissue is obtained by isolating chondrogenic cells and culturing them to obtain chondrocytes in a cell-associated matrix. The chondrocytes and cell associated matrix are then cultured on a semipermeable membrane to provide the engineered cartilage tissue. The engineered tissue, or one of its precursors, can be contacted with the test agent to determine what effect, if any, the test agent has on engineered cartilage.