Aggrecan Antibody

Aggrecan core protein (Cartilage-specific proteoglycan core protein) is a major component of extracellular matrix of cartilagenous tissues. The major function of aggrecan is to resist compression in cartilage. Aggrecan binds avidly to hyaluronic acid via an N-terminal globular region. Expression of aggrecan is restricited to cartilages in chondrocytes throughout the developing skeleton. Aggrecan contains mostly chondroitin sulfate and lesser keratan sulfate chains, N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. The release of aggrecan fragments from articular cartilage into the synovial fluid at all stages of human osteoarthritis is the result of cleavage by aggrecanase. Defects in aggrecan are the cause of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia type Kimberley (SEDK) and spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia aggrecan type (SEMD-ACAN).