Stem Cell Treatment and Cartilage Growth

            (The research project is below, on Epigenetics, not this one)  In the article from ScienceNews magazine, scientists have found in their study, a new molecule called "kartogenin" that encourages stem cells to take on the characteristics of cells that make cartilage--a strong flexible, substance in your body, especially around your joints. This treatment using kartogenin allowed many mice with arthritis-like cartilage damage in the knee to regain their ability to use their joints without pain. This study has shown light on a potential treatment for patients with osteoarthritis(the most common joint disorder, which is due to aging and wear and tear on a joint) by finding a way to regenerate cartilage.  The way kartogenin works is that, it touches on the mesenchymal stem cells, which are in cartilage plus giving rise to cells that make connective tissue. This also includes chondrocytes which are the only cells in your body that manufacture cartilage. Kartogenin allows these stem cell to differentiate into cells that take on the role of making cartilages or in specific, to take on the role of chondrocytes. Results from lab work shows that kartogenin inhibits a protein called filamin A in the mesenchymal stem cells. This releases other compounds that can the regulate the activity of genes essential in transforming the stem cells into functional chondrocytes.This helps protect and repair cartilages. I believe that this potential technique gives hope to millions of people that are likely to become victims of osteoarthritis since cartilages wear off as everyone ages. It is an unevitable process that everyone has to go through. 

"Our cartilages wasn't meant to live this long," says molecular biologist Mary Goldring of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.


http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339669/title/Stem_cell_treatment_spurs_cartilage_growth