New research claims arthritis 'could be cured' giving hope to millions
Crippling arthritis brings misery to millions of people - but it could one day be cured, according to new research.
Scientists have discovered a type of stem cell which they hope will allow them to re-strengthen cartilage and reverse the condition. Osteoarthritis is caused by the deterioration of cartilage and other tissues in joints, which can cause searing pain and inflammation. It is the most common form of arthritis in the UK with around eight million people impacted, according to the NHS.
Current treatments for Osteoarthritis tend to manage symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes of the long-term, progressive condition. It often develops in adults in their late 40s or older, but it can occur at any age due to injury. Factors such as ageing, obesity, injury and family history can contribute to the progression of osteoarthritis.
However, researchers at University of Adelaide, Australia, hope that their new findings - which challenge the idea that arthritis comes as a result of 'wear and tear' in joints - can shine new light on the condition and potentially help reverse it. Dr Jia Ng of Adelaide Medical School, who co-led the study, said: “The findings of our study reimagine osteoarthritis not as a ‘wear and tear’ condition, but as an active - and pharmaceutically reversible - loss of critical articular cartilage stem cells. With this new information, we are now able to explore pharmaceutical options to directly target the stem cell population that is responsible for the development of articular cartilage and progression of osteoarthritis.”
During their research, scientists at University of Adelaide discovered a new population of stem cells, marked by the Gremlin 1 gene, which are responsible for the progression of osteoarthritis. Treatment with fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) stimulated Gremlin 1 cells in joint cartilage in mice, leading to significant recovery of cartilage thickness and reduced osteoarthritis.
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The stem cells present new opportunities for cartilage regeneration, and it is will have relevance to other forms of cartilage injury and disease, which are notoriously challenging to repair and treat. While Dr Ng describes current treatments for osteoarthritis as a “Band-Aid approach”, this new understanding could lead to a pharmaceutical treatment that reverses osteoarthritis and improves health outcomes
Dr Ng added: “Known comorbidities of osteoarthritis include heart, pulmonary, and kidney disease, mental and behavioural conditions, diabetes, and cancer. Our study suggests that there may be new ways to treat the disease rather than just the symptoms, leading to better health outcomes and quality of life for people who suffer from osteoarthritis. We look forward to the outcome of these trials and to contribute to the better understanding of a pharmaceutical mechanism to treat osteoarthritis.” While their discovery is currently limited to animal models, Dr Ng said there are genetic similarities to human samples and human trials are ongoing.
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