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.