Early elevation in circulating levels of C‐telopeptides of type II collagen predicts structural damage in articular cartilage in the rodent model of collagen‐induced arthritis

Abstract

The elevation in serum CTX-II concomitant with the onset of disease and proportional to cartilage damage demonstrates that CTX-II is a sensitive diagnostic tool for monitoring joint disease in the rodent model of CIA. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical findings are consistent with the concept that the major source of serum CTX-II is the damaged articular cartilage.