Blocking a protein associated with aging has enabled researchers at Stanford University to regrow knee cartilage in older mice, according to findings published in the journal Science. The study found that inhibiting the protein 15-PGDH not only promoted cartilage regeneration but also increased muscle mass and endurance in older animals.
Helen Blau, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford, said on the Stanford Reports website: “This is a new way of regenerating adult tissue, and it has significant clinical promise for treating arthritis due to aging or injury. We were looking for stem cells, but they are clearly not involved. It’s very exciting.”
The research team also observed that the treatment helped prevent arthritis from developing after knee injuries, which are common among athletes and recreational exercisers. Human tissue samples obtained from knee replacement surgeries responded similarly in laboratory tests by generating new cartilage.
The work was partly funded by the National Institutes of Health. An oral version of the treatment developed at Stanford is currently being tested in clinical trials as a potential therapy for age-related joint weakness.
Arthritis encompasses several diseases that result in the deterioration of joint cartilage, causing pain, swelling, and reduced mobility for millions of Americans. Osteoarthritis—the focus of this study—develops as joint cartilage wears down over time.
