Short telomeres influence course of osteoarthritis
People with arthritic knees can buy Canadian Orthovisc at a fraction of what it costs in the U.S.
People with arthritic knees can buy Canadian Orthovisc at a fraction of what it costs in the U.S. While such treatments can help patients maintain their flexibility and independence, scientists are continuing to study the causes of osteoarthritis in order to find more effective treatments. Researchers from Denmark discovered that the disease may be linked to the length of telomeres, which are the ends of chromosomes.
DNA is duplicated as part of cell division. However, this replication is not perfect, and the ends of DNA strands tend to be left out. These ends become increasingly shorter due to the number of cell divisions over time or because of cell damage.
Based on previous research that suggested cells from arthritic tissue have shorter telomeres, the team of scientists analyzed these chromosomal structures in cells taken from the knees of individuals who underwent joint replacement surgery. Results showed not only that arthritic tissue cells tend to have shorter telomeres, but that the percentage of these cells increased within regions closer to the joint damage, as published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Furthermore, ultra short telomeres due to oxidative stress were strongly associated with osteoarthritis damage. These alterations may prevent joint repair, the scientists said.
"The damaged cartilage could add to the mechanical stress within the joint and so cause a feedback cycle driving the progression of the disease," said researcher Maria Harbo.
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