Abstract: Human aggrecanase and polypeptides related thereto, as well as nucleic acid compositions encoding the same, are provided. The subject polypeptides and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including research, diagnostic, and therapeutic agent screening applications. Also provided are methods of inhibiting aggrecanase activity in a host and methods of treating disease conditions associated with aggrecanase activity, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis, infectious arthritis, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondolysis, sports injury, joint trauma, pulmonary disease, fibrosis, and the like.

Abstract: Novel metalloproteases having thrombospondin domain(s) (MPTS proteins) and polypeptides related thereto, as well as nucleic acid compositions encoding the same, are provided. The subject polypeptide and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including diagnostic applications, therapeutic agent screening applications, as well as therapeutic applications for a variety of different conditions. Also provided are methods of treating disease conditions associated with aggrecanase activity, e.g. conditions characterized by the presence of aggrecan cleavage products, such as rheumatoid- and osteo-arthritis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a human stromelysin-1 (i.e., HSL-1) promoter and uses therefor. In particular, the invention provides a purified DNA containing a functional HSL-1 promoter region that corresponds in structure to the native genomic form of this promoter, an expression vector containing a portion of the purified promoter DNA operatively linked to a heterologous DNA sequence encoding a detectable gene product, a host cell transformed with this factor, a pharmacologic screening assay for stromelysin-1 promoter modulating activity, and a method-of modulating TNF &agr; level and matrix metalloproteinase activities in inflamed tissues of a mammal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a human stromelysin-1 (i.e., HSL-1) promoter and uses therefor. In particular, the invention provides a purified DNA containing a functional HSL-1 promoter region that corresponds in structure to the native genomic form of this promoter, an expression vector containing a portion of the purified promoter DNA operatively linked to a heterologous DNA sequence encoding a detectable gene product, a host cell transformed with this factor , a pharmacologic screening assay for stromelysin-1 promoter modulating activity, and a method of modulating TNF .alpha. level and matrix metalloproteinase activities in inflamed tissues of a mammal.