Methods relating to modulation of cartilage cell growth and/or differentiation by modulation of NFATp activity

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein and a target molecule;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein and a target molecule wherein the indicator composition is a cell that expresses NFATp protein;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein and a target molecule wherein the indicator composition is a cell that expresses NFATp protein and wherein the cell has been engineered to express the NFATp protein by introducing into the cell an expression vector encoding the NFATp protein;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein and a target molecule wherein the indicator composition is a cell free composition;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein, wherein the indicator composition is a cell that expresses an NFATp protein and a target molecule;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) monitoring the ability of the test compound to modulate the interaction of the NFATp protein with a target molecule;
• d) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• e) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) providing an indicator composition comprising NFATp protein, wherein the indicator composition comprises an indicator cell, wherein the indicator cell comprises an NFATp protein and a reporter gene responsive to the NFATp protein;
• b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds;
• c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that modulates the activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the compound of interest on cartilage growth or differentiation in a cell to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation, comprising

• a) contacting cartilage cells comprising NFATp protein and a target molecule with a test compound ex vivo;
• and
• b) measuring the activity of NFATp protein in the cartilage cells in the presence of the test compound and comparing with the activity of NFATp protein in the cartilage cells in the absence of the test compound to determine whether the test compound modulates activity of NFATp protein;
• and
• d) determining the effect of the test compound on cartilage growth or differentiation to thereby identify a compound that modulates cartilage growth or differentiation.