Scientists at John Hopkins University continuously study osteoarthritis and different aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and eventually what will best benefit the patient. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 27 million Americans, and remarkably does not have a cure.
Researchers theorize that this degenerative disease is not solely a cartilage problem, but also a condition that breaks down the bone underneath the cartilage and exacerbates the pain and damage.
Offering the best spine and pain care in all of Utah, Southwest Spine and Pain Center continues to provide incomparable care for all of our patients.
What the researchers at John Hopkins found in the clinical trial was that blocking the bone regulation protein actually stopped the disease from progressing. The initial damage to the cartilage actually triggers the bone underneath to act improperly and build a surplus of bone. With the extra bone, the cartilage stretches and osteoarthritis becomes worsened.
Xu Cao, Ph.D. and director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at John Hopkins University School of Medicine reports, “We think that the problem in [osteoarthritis] is not just the cartilage ‘cushion’, but the bone underneath.”
The cartilage on the cap of joints is there to avoid grinding and wearing down of the bones. Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as ‘wear-and-tear’ arthritis, causes degeneration of this protective layer, leading to severe pain and limited mobility. The degeneration most commonly affects the knees, hips, and spine.
Overweight people, athletes, and people whose muscles have been weakened over time are at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis. Dr. Cao says there is a lack of effective drugs and understanding about the processes to effectively treat the disease. He says, “We began to think of cartilage and the bone underneath it, called subchondral bones, as functioning as a single unit [which] helped us to see the ways in which the bone was responding to changes in the cartilage and exacerbating the problem.”
The researchers studied mice with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and found that one week after the tear, clusters of subchondral bone appeared “chewed” away by osteoclast cells. This process caused further strain on the cartilage cap and activated high levels of bone protein called TGF-beta1. The team then attempted to block the activity of TGF-beta1 protein and found that the subchondral bone improve dramatically. However, the cartilage cap deteriorated even more.
Dr. Cao says the team has started progress on further research for osteoarthritis patients. The team has already started on clinical trials to test the efficacy of TGF-beta1 antibodies in human patients with early onset of osteoarthritis. Dr. Cao says that if their treatment is successful it could stop the degeneration right in its tracks
Southwest Spine and Pain Center continues to follow progress on promising studies. John Hopkins researchers remain dedicated to finding beneficial treatment for osteoarthritis patients and Southwest Spine and Pain hopes that FDA approved treatments can one day help our patients.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2013
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2013