Methods of treatment using WISP polypeptides

A method of treating mammalian cartilage cells or mammalian cartilage tissue, comprising contacting mammalian cartilage cells or mammalian cartilage tissue damaged from a degenerative cartilagenous disorder with an effective amount of WISP polypeptide, wherein said WISP polypeptide is a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 34 to 372 of SEQ ID NO:9;
• b) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 372 of SEQ ID NO:9;
• c) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 16 to 354 of SEQ ID NO:8;
• d) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 354 of SEQ ID NO:8;
• and
• e) a WISP-3 polypeptide having at least 95% identity to the polypeptide of a), b), c) or d), wherein said WISP-3 polypeptide stimulates chondrocyte proliferation or differentiation.

A method of treating mammalian cartilage cells or tissue, comprising contacting mammalian cartilage cells or tissue damaged from injury with an effective amount of WISP polypeptide, wherein said WISP polypeptide is a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a WISP-2 polypeptide comprising amino acids 24 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:10;
• b) a WISP-2 polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:10;
• and
• c) a WISP-2 polypeptide having at least 95% identity to the polypeptide of a) or b), wherein said WISP-2 polypeptide stimulates chondrocyte proliferation or differentiation.

A method of treating mammalian cartilage cells or tissue, comprising contacting mammalian cartilage cells or tissue damaged from injury with an effective amount of WISP polypeptide, wherein said WISP polypeptide is a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 34 to 372 of SEQ ID NO:9;
• b) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 372 of SEQ ID NO:9;
• c) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 16 to 354 of SEQ ID NO:8;
• d) a WISP-3 polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 354 of SEQ ID NO:8;
• and
• e) a WISP-3 polypeptide having at least 95% identity to the polypeptide of a), b), c) or d), wherein said WISP-3 polypeptide stimulates chondrocyte proliferation or differentiation.