This implies that THBS4 is most likely not a valid biomarker of human osteoarthritis, yet it might be useful to analyze a larger number of individuals, also including cases with other causes of articular cartilage loss (such as rheumatoid arthritis), and to analyze for the presence of THBS4 cleavage products that are potentially generated in specific pathological settings. This evidence concerns the gene THBS4 and rheumatoid arthritis.