A new study conducted by researchers at University of Liverpool and funded by Arthritis Research UK has uncovered the mechanism through which some cells alter their behavior after the onset of osteoarthritis. The trigger for arthritis is still to be fully defined, but it is known that injuries, obesity or old age can all increase the risk for arthritis, and lead to cells in the affected joint altering their behaviour.
The research team from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease has now found that changes in the rate at which molecules in joint cartilage called mRNA are created and destroyed are fundamental to causing this change in behaviour.
These molecules act as a messenger – information from the DNA in cells is carried by mRNA to areas of the cells which create the proteins which carry out its function.
By upsetting this balance – with more mRNA being destroyed – the cells cease to function as effectively.
Senior lecturer in orthopaedic sciences, Dr Simon Tew said: "Osteoarthritic cartilage cells have a significant number of genes whose mRNA is destroyed more rapidly than those in healthy cells. This affects some genes that we already know are involved in osteoarthritis as well as some that are less well studied."
The researchers discovered this by comparing cells isolated from patients with osteoarthritis with those from healthy patients. The findings show how the cells in joints stop working properly, leading to arthritis and the researchers hope that by understanding this part of the process, new treatments can be developed which address the problem.
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Source-Eurekalert