Patent ID: 8663930

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound that inhibits type II collagen degradation in cartilage or extracellular matrix (ECM), said method comprising: a) contacting a compound with a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 27; b) determining the binding affinity of the compound to the polypeptide; c) contacting a population of mammalian cells expressing the polypeptide with compound that exhibits a binding affinity in (b) of at least 10 micromolar; and d) identifying a compound that reduces the expression of a cartilage degradation protein or protease in the mammalian cells or inhibits the induction of expression of a cartilage degradation protein or protease in the mammalian cells in response to IL-1, wherein said cartilage degradation protein or protease is MMP13.