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Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases that affects millions of aging people every year. It is also known as degenerative arthritis and so far there is no treatment for this disease. The typical treatment of osteoarthritis includes medications or some short of interventions that can reduce the pain and inflammation.

But, now the findings of a new study could open doors for development of new drugs or treatments for osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. A team of researchers led by professor Martin Lotz of Scripps Research Institute have found that there is an important link between loss of protein HMGB2 and the development of osteoarthritis. Protein HMGB2 is found in the surface layer of joint cartilage and it starts to loss with age.

“We have found the mechanism that begins to explain how and why aging leads to deterioration of articular cartilage,” says Professor Martin Lotz.

Osteoarthritis normally begins with a disruption of the surface layer of cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. With this, the bone surface become less well protected by cartilage and bone begins to grind painfully against bone. That’s why a person with osteoarthritis experience pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the spine, joints, shoulders, hands, hips and knees.

Now the researchers have found that before the destruction of surface layer in cartilage, there is loss of the critical DNA binding protein HMGB2. This loss of HMGB2 is directly related to aging and ultimately osteoarthritis. The results of the study were published in this week’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

So, now researchers got the clue! They need to find some kind of molecule that prevent or stop the loss, or somehow stimulate the production of that protein. I am sure that soon they will find that molecule and one day osteoarthritis could easily be prevented or reversed.

via Scripps Research Institute

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