Serum concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is sensitive to physiological cyclic loading in healthy adults

Even a moderate walking activity can significantly influence serum COMP concentration. The immediate response points to a diffusion time of COMP fragments from cartilage to the blood of 30 min or less. The response at 5.5 h indicates a metabolic delay for COMP in the range of 5 h to 6 h.