The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides having sequence similarity to human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention. Further provided herein are methods of using the polypeptide to diagnose and treat damage to cartilage resulting from injury and/or cartilaginous disorders.