Researchers at Britain's Cardiff University have identified stem cells within articular cartilage of adults that have the ability to derive into chondrocytes -- the cell's that make up the body's cartilage. The research team was able to identify the cells in people over 75 years old.
Initially, the research team identified a partially derived stem cell in bovine cartilage that could be turned into chrondrocytes in culture. The breakthrough came when the researchers found a similar cell in human cartilage that was more like a stem cell. The lead researcher explained that the stem cell when grown in a lab can produce enough of a person's own cartilage that it would be possible to transplant it.
There are limitations to transplanting a person's existing cartilage cells, but by culturing it from a stem cell, researchers believe they can overcome the limitation and transplant effectively. The news is hopeful for osteoarthritis patients who live with pain because of cartilage damage. Researchers plan to conduct an animal trial as the next phase. The animal trial is required before a human clinical trial can be performed. They hope to start a clinical trial next year.
Related Resources:
- Osteoarthritis Research
- Cartilage: 10 Things You Should Know
- X-ray Evidence of Osteoarthritis
- Joint Space Narrowing - What's the Significance?
- Cartilage: Researchers Reveal Information About Structure
Photo by James Gathany (PHIL)
