Osteoarthritis, or arthrosis - the most common joint disease on the planet.
Emerging for various reasons, from congenital dysplasia to increased physical exertion, arthrosis slowly and steadily leads to loss of joint function and a catastrophic decline in the quality of life.
Currently, the disease is incurable.
Despite many years of complex therapy, many patients eventually have to go for endoprosthetics. Hip and knee joints - the most loaded joints of our body - among the leaders in the number of operations.
In general, in developed countries, 10% of men and 13% of women over 60 years suffer from arthrosis.
A study published by the journal Nature Medicine can be a turning point in the treatment of arthrosis. American scientists have proposed a single injection of a new drug that is able to clear the joint of old cells and stimulate the regeneration of cartilaginous tissue, stopping the development of arthrosis.
Sensory cells and arthrosis.
Sensory cells accumulate in our body as they age.
This is a normal process of recovery from injury. By secreting special signaling molecules, they urge other cells to migrate to the damaged area and start "repair work" as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, the sensor cells do not always leave the focus after the end of the "works". Staying in the joint gap, they trigger a cascade of pathological reactions, culminating in the destruction of cartilaginous tissue, and all those symptoms that are observed in patients with arthrosis.
More recently, scientists have confirmed the role of senescent cells in the pathogenesis of arthrosis, and the team of Dr. Jennifer Elisseeff from the Center for Textile Engineering in Baltimore had time to offer its solution - cleaning the joint from old cells.
One injection - and the cellular balance restored.
For this work, we had to simulate a knee joint injury in laboratory mice, after which degenerative changes characteristic of arthrosis developed. Then the researchers injected the experimental animal with an arthrosis drug UBX0101, selectively destroying the cells of the senses.
The results surpassed the most daring expectations: UBX0101 after the first injection reduced the population of cells of senescent cells by 50%. At the same time, the activity of genes responsible for reparative processes in cartilaginous tissue increased, and the restoration of the diseased joint was substantially accelerated.
The first success was followed by experiments on old mice with arthrosis, in which the cartilaginous tissue was initially weaker and thinner. Injection of UBX0101 resulted in a significant reduction in pain, the animals became more mobile, and the tests confirmed the activation of reparative processes in the joint.
Tests of UBX0101 on human cartilage.
Of course, the next step was the testing of a new medicine for arthrosis on human cartilaginous tissue.
In vitro experiments have confirmed that UBX0101 has the same phenomenal effect on the culture of cells taken from patients with advanced osteoarthritis.
"After 4 days after treatment with the drug, the population of cells of senescent cells was significantly reduced, and the formation of a new cartilaginous tissue. This is an amazing result, which indicates the possibility of using UBX0101 even in patients with severe arthrosis, "say the authors.
The results are really impressive and promise great changes in the treatment of arthrosis.
But, unfortunately, there remains a serious obstacle: UBX0101 is quickly removed from the joint.
Therefore, Unity Biotechnology develops carrier molecules that will prolong the effect of a new drug.
"One day all that will be needed to treat arthrosis is the only injection. Our medicine will permanently cleanse the joint of the old cells, eliminating the need for a constant intake of NSAIDs, punctures and other procedures. We will stop the development of the disease, "- assured Dr. Elissef.
Before scientists, a lot of work, but patients can already look to the future with faith and optimism.
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