Background
Syndecan-4, a member of a syndecan family of transmembrane heparansulfate proteoglycans has been recently associated with cell-matrix-adhesion, cell-migration, differentiation and proliferation, but its specific function in inflammatory pathologies remains unclear. We used the human TNFalpha transgenic mouse (hTNFtg) to analyse the expression and function of syndecan-4 in chronic-destructive-arthritis and answer the question whether inhibition of syndecan-4 by specific antibodies may prevent cartilagedestruction and/or improve the phenotype after onset of the disease in this animal model of human RA.