Urinary collagen type II C-telopeptide fragments are sensitive markers of matrix metalloproteinase-dependent cartilage degradation in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Objective: To assess the relevance of collagen type II C-telopeptide fragments (CTX-II) as markers of cartilage degradation during adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Methods: Rats were injected with Freund's adjuvant on day 0 and treated orally for 21 days twice a day with vehicle or 10 or 20 mg/kg of a newly designed matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMP-Inh). Urine samples were collected for 24 h between days 19 and 20 and the concentration of the cartilage-derived CTX-II was measured with a 2-site, sandwich-type ELISA.