Provided is a method of regenerating cartilage tissues by treatment with hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1), and a composition for regenerating cartilage, the composition including HAPLN1 as an active ingredient. According to the present disclosure, the HAPLN1 protein may have cartilage formation-stimulating ability and articular cartilage regeneration ability, may increase an expression level of TGF-β receptor I of chondrocytes to increase a component ratio of cells having cartilage formation ability, and to induce regeneration of cartilage tissues. Accordingly, the HAPLN1 protein of the present disclosure, which is a novel composition regulating TGF-β signaling, may be usefully applied as a pharmaceutical composition for regenerating cartilage, a health food composition for regenerating cartilage, or a reagent composition for regenerating cartilage.