Researchers Discover Potential Biomarkers for Osteoarthritis

Two biomarkers have been discovered in blood samples that may help measure cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis and may help prevent the progression of the disease.

The study, which was recently presented at the annual Orthopaedic Research Society in San Francisco, California, from February 4-7, 2012, followed a cohort of 121 Canadian patients who underwent reconstruction surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) in their knees. Of the participants, 30 were found to have a high concentration of 2 molecules called noncoding RNAs in their blood coupled with mild knee cartilage damage 1 year after surgery.

The authors of the study, led by Gary Gibson, PhD, director of Henry Ford’s Bone and Joint Center, concluded that the noncoding RNAs associated with the cartilage damage may be the biomarkers for osteoarthritis. Often called “wear-and-tear arthritis,” osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time.

“For various pathology reasons associated with the variability of the disease and challenging blood biochemistry, developing a biomarker for osteoarthritis has been very elusive,” Dr. Gibson noted. “The next step is to expand the number of patients studied and determine if the cartilage damage will worsen over time.”