Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for classifying the quality of a repair response after injury to a joint of a human or veterinary patient including determining expression levels of at least one of a plurality of genes listed in FIG. 4(A) expressed in a tissue sample taken from the joint.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides methods for classifying the quality of a repair response after injury to a joint of a subject. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a tissue sample from the injured region of the joint and determining expression levels in the sample of a plurality of genes, including at least those genes listed in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. Another aspect of the invention provides methods of treating a human or veterinary subject having an injury to a joint based on the classification of the quality of the repair response.

Abstract: One aspect of the Invention provides methods for classifying the quality of a repair response after injury to a joint of a subject. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a tissue sample from the injured region of the joint and determining expression levels in the sample of a plurality of genes, including at least those genes listed in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3, Another aspect of the Invention provides methods of treating a human or veterinary subject having an injury to a joint based on the classification of the quality of the repair response.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for treating or preventing the development of osteoarthritis by administering to a subject in need of such treatment a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-fibrotic agent. In various embodiments, the anti-fibrotic agent is 5-methyl-1-phenylpyridin-2-one, tranilast, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase inhibitor, fasudil, CC-930, T-5524, rosiglitazone, tocilizumab, E5564, TAK-242, GKT136901 or bosentan.

Abstract: One aspect of the Invention provides methods for classifying the quality of a repair response after injury to a joint of a subject. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a tissue sample from the injured region of the joint and determining expression levels in the sample of a plurality of genes, including at least those genes listed in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. Another aspect of the Invention provides methods of treating a human or veterinary subject having an injury to a joint based on the classification of the quality of the repair response.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns novel materials and methods for the detection, treatment, and prevention of human osteoarthritis. Specifically, the cleavage site where aggrecanase cleaves aggrecan has been identified. Identification of this site, as well as the nature of the enzyme, facilitates specific treatments which block or diminish the activity of the enzyme. A further aspect of the invention concerns methods for detecting evidence of osteoarthritis.