Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject with arthritis or an arthritic disease or preventing arthritis or arthritic disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that attenuates annexin function. Also provided are various methods of screening for agents and genes that increase collagen synthesis, decrease collagen degradation, or reduce or delay apoptosis, and methods of using the identified agents or nucleic acids for attaining or maintaining cartilage homeostasis, promoting cartilage repair, increasing collagen synthesis, decreasing collagen degradation, or reducing or delaying apoptosis. The invention also provides methods of decreasing mineralization of vesicles derived from chondrocytes and of promoting endochondral bone growth using agents that attenuates annexin function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject with arthritis or an arthritic disease or preventing arthritis or arthritic disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that attenuates annexin function. Also provided are various methods of screening for agents and genes that increase collagen synthesis, decrease collagen degradation, or reduce or delay apoptosis, and methods of using the identified agents or nucleic acids for attaining or maintaining cartilage homeostasis, promoting cartilage repair, increasing collagen synthesis, decreasing collagen degradation, or reducing or delaying apoptosis. The invention also provides methods of decreasing mineralization of vesicles derived from chondrocytes and of promoting endochondral bone growth using agents that attenuates annexin function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subject with arthritis or an arthritic disease or preventing arthritis or arthritic disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that attenuates annexin function. Also provided are various methods of screening for agents and genes that increase collagen synthesis, decrease collagen degradation, or reduce or delay apoptosis, and methods of using the identified agents or nucleic acids for attaining or maintaining cartilage homeostasis, promoting cartilage repair, increasing collagen synthesis, decreasing collagen degradation, or reducing or delaying apoptosis. The invention also provides methods of decreasing mineralization of vesicles derived from chondrocytes and of promoting endochondral bone growth using agents that attenuates annexin function.

Abstract: A modular biosensor system for chemical or biological agent detection utilizes electrochemical measurement of an ion current across a gate membrane triggered by the reaction of the target agent with a recognition protein conjugated to a channel blocker. The sensor system includes a bioresponse simulator or "biochemical switch" module which contains the recognition protein-channel blocker conjugate, and in which the detection reactions occur, and a transducer module which contains a gate membrane and a measuring electrode, and in which the presence of agent is sensed electrically. In the poised state, ion channels in the gate membrane are blocked by the recognition protein-channel blocker conjugate. Detection reactions remove the recognition protein-channel blocker conjugate from the ion channels, thus eliciting an ion current surge in the gate membrane which subsequently triggers an output alarm.