Modulating Subchondral Bone Properties to Inhibit OA Development
Abstract
Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Topic Area Addressed: Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage in a joint like the knee acts as a shock absorber and provides a low friction, slippery surface as the joint moves during our daily activities. However, the daily wear-and-tear process as we age or a sudden injury to the joint can ultimately break down cartilage, exposing the underlying bone surface. This condition is termed osteoarthritis (OA), which is the major cause of disability in the adult population. Individuals who suffer from OA often experience high levels of pain and limited mobility that interferes with their daily activities. OA that develops after a joint injury is termed post-traumatic OA (PTOA) and can manifest years after the initiating injury. PTOA is a significant cause of disability among active military Service members and Veterans. Training and Service regimes require intensive physical activities that often lead to traumatic joint injuries that markedly increase the risk for the subsequent development of OA. Unfortunately, despite the increasing number of active Service members and Veterans with OA, the only effective treatments currently available for the prevention and treatment of OA are physical therapy, moderate exercise, reduction in body weight or, as a last resort, total joint replacement. These treatments do not effectively inhibit disease progression or restore the joint to its original healthy state, making it imperative to find the factors that contribute to the changes in joint tissues that result from an injury and lead to the start and continued progression of OA. OA affects all of the joint tissues not only the cartilage, but also the bone around the joint, the menisci, and synovial lining and capsule that together comprise the joint. Joints are continuously exposed to loading during weight bearing and daily activities, and this repetitive loading is a major factor in contributing to OA initiation and progression. Our studies focus on the role of the bone tissues in the development of OA, since changes in the bone after injury can profoundly affect the other joint tissues. We have developed a method for applying controlled loads to living mice in a way that leads to OA-like changes in both bone and cartilage of mouse knees. Our proposed study will provide insights on the interaction between bone and articular cartilage during mechanical loading and their contribution to post-traumatic OA. This understanding will be the basis for developing future pharmacologic therapies that target bone properties with the goal of preventing or slowing the development and progression of OA. Such treatments will significantly enhance the quality of life among individuals with OA that not only result from traumatic joint injuries, but also from other non-injury-related factors such as obesity and aging.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710540
Entities
People
- Marjolein van der Meulen
Organizations
- Cornell University
- United States Army