Stanford scientists regrow lost knee cartilage and prevent arthritis in mice
Stanford scientists may have found a way to regrow worn-out joint cartilage and stop arthritis before it starts. Blocking an aging-related protein regrew knee cartilage in old mice, and human tissue from knee replacement surgeries also produced fresh cartilage. An oral version is
Stanford Medicine researchers report a treatment that blocks an aging-related protein and triggers cartilage regrowth. In old mice, thinned knee cartilage grew thicker and the regenerated tissue was the smooth hyaline type that healthy joints need. In a mouse model of a torn knee ligament, treated animals were far less likely to develop osteoarthritis. Cartilage from human knee replacement surgeries also began producing fresh cartilage after one week of treatment. An oral version is already being tested in early human trials for age-related muscle weakness. Source: Stanford Medicine, published in the journal Science.