A group of researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University, along with two international co-authors, have publisheda study in Scientific Reports that found aberrant stem cells may play a previously unexamined role in osteoarthritis, a debilitating condition affecting more than 30 million Americans.
The researchers discovered that a small population of stem cells found in the joint cartilage of osteoarthritis patients may contribute to the development and worsening of this joint disease.These stem cells, called OA-MSC (osteoarthritis-mesenchymal stem cells), whose numbers increase as the patient ages and the disease progresses, express tissue-degrading enzymes and may also promote the mineralization of cartilage.
This holds real promise for future therapies, says Chathuraka T. Jayasuriya, PhD, of Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, the lead author of the study. These stem cells are a precursor to the chondrocytes that weve long associated with osteoarthritis. We may be able to target the stem cells, eliminating them or preventing their proliferation, and saving valuable cartilage for a longer period of time.
Qian Chen, PhD, also of Rhode Island Hospital and Brown, and the corresponding author of the study comments, Since we have generated these OA stem cell lines, they will be very useful for screening drugs for treating OA.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and frequently occurs in the hands, hips and knees. It can come about as a result of age, injury or overuse. The cartilage covering the end of the bone, which allows for smooth movement in the joint, begins to break down, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Over time, the bone itself can also break down. Pain management and ultimately joint replacement are the currently available treatments. There is no FDA approved disease modifying drugs for OA.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis is the most common form of disability in American adults, and the fifth most prevalent disability worldwide. A study in 2012 demonstrated that osteoarthritis was the highest cause of work loss and affected more than 20 million individuals, costing the U.S. economy more than $100 billion annually.
The study, Molecular characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in human osteoarthritis cartilage reveals contribution to the OA phenotype, is supported by two major research grants held by the hospital and the university the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Skeletal Health and Repair and the Advance Clinical and Translational Research, both funded by the National Institute of General Medicine (NIGMS).
The other authors are Richard Terek, MD, Michael G. Ehrlich, MD, and Nicholas Lemme,BS of Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University and Nan Hu, PhD and Jing Li, PhD of Xian Jiaotong University in Xian, China.
Read the original:
RIH research on stem cells & osteoarthritis may lead to ...
- Environmental Factor - September 2022: Extramural Papers of the Month - Environmental Factor Newsletter - September 8th, 2022
- Fifth annual University of Rhode Island Research and Scholarship Photo Contest winners announced - University of Rhode Island - June 13th, 2022
- Paul Choi and Leslie Tolbert to lead Board of Overseers - Harvard Gazette - May 15th, 2022
- Blood Emergency declared in Rhode Island and Connecticut - What'sUpNewp - May 15th, 2022
- WVU names 2021 class of Ruby Fellows | WVU Today | West Virginia University - WVU Today - August 5th, 2021
- Arbor Strengthens Focus on Therapeutics with Key Additions to Leadership Team - Yahoo Finance - July 21st, 2021
- Donate Blood Stem Cells or Marrow | Rhode Island Blood Center - June 23rd, 2021
- Faithful America Confronts Religious Bigotry and Christian Teachings that Serve a Hateful Political Agenda - Between The Lines - December 20th, 2020
- HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Covid-19 Vaccinations to Begin Across US - Bloomberg Government - December 20th, 2020
- This years SN 10 scientists aim to solve some of sciences biggest challenges - Science News - October 4th, 2020
- COBRE Center for Stem Cells and Aging | Lifespan - April 16th, 2020
- Insects are being deployed in the war against invasive species in Connecticut - Connecticut Magazine - April 16th, 2020
- Stem Cell Treatment Rhode Island - Boston Stem Cell Center - September 7th, 2019
- Rhode Island Stem Cells | Stem Cell TV | Page 3 - September 7th, 2019
- Plastic Cosmetic Surgery Rhode Island RI Patrick Sullivan MD - April 26th, 2019
- Stem Cell Therapy Rhode Island - Cordblood Search Tools - February 5th, 2019
- Flow Cytometry Core | Lifespan COBRE Center for Stem Cells ... - December 5th, 2018
- Helping You Decide | Rhode Island Cord Blood Banking - July 27th, 2018
- Home | Rhode Island Blood Center - June 25th, 2018
- Embryonic Stem Cell Research - RTL - June 20th, 2018
- Stem Cells Wakefield Rhode Island, South County Oral ... - October 17th, 2017
- About Us | Rhode Island Blood Center - ribc.org - September 25th, 2017
- NSF EPSCoR awards new projects - Gears Of Biz - August 9th, 2017
- Facelift Face Lift Surgery Providence Rhode Island RI - July 1st, 2017
- Don Margolis - Adult Stem Cell Research - July 1st, 2017
- Sunrun Expands Into Seven New States, Nearly Doubles Market Reach - CleanTechnica - July 1st, 2017
- Rhode Island Hospital Unveils New COBRE Center for Stem ... - October 22nd, 2016
- Donate Marrow | Rhode Island Blood Center - August 28th, 2016
- Cryopreservation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells - October 19th, 2015
- Chapter 3: On the Job: Cellular Specialties: Inside the ... - October 19th, 2015
- Novel Stem Cells and Vesicles ... - Rhode Island Hospital - July 2nd, 2015
- Stem Cell Therapy in Michigan - Allure Medical Spa - April 6th, 2015
- New device enables 3-D tissue engineering with multicellular building blocks - March 10th, 2015
- Fat Injections Transfer Contouring Rhode Island RI - September 27th, 2014
- Stem Cell Hair Loss Boston - Regrowth, Restoration - September 27th, 2014
- Rhode Island | Interstate Alliance on Stem Cell Research - September 6th, 2014
- Rhode Island Stem Cell Therapy | Stem Cell Treatments - August 22nd, 2014
- Marrow Donor Program - Rhode Island Blood Center - August 22nd, 2014