York: Scientists at the University of York have made
a significant advance that could make cell-based treatments for
arthritis less of a lottery. Researchers
in the Departments of Biology and Physics at York, working with
colleagues at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, have identified
individual stem cells that can regenerate tissue, cartilage and bone. The
stem cells are mixed within human bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) but
are similar in appearance and previously, scientists had difficulty in
distinguishing between them. The York researchers isolated individual
MSCs and analysed their different properties. This allowed researchers
to identify those stem cells which are capable of repairing damaged
cartilage or joint tissue opening the way for improved treatment for
arthritis.
The research which was funded by Arthritis Research UK is published in the latest issue of Stem Cell Reports.
The
York team also isolated a rare subset of stem cells in bone marrow that
while having no capability for tissue repair appeared to have a
prominent role in immune function.
Dr
Paul Genever, who led the research at York, said: “While stem cell
therapy is an exciting new development for the treatment for
osteoarthritis, up to now it has been something of a lottery because we
did not know the precise properties of each of the cells.
“This
project has helped us to establish which cells are good at regenerating
tissue, cartilage and bone respectively. It will help in the search to
develop more targeted therapies for arthritis patients.”
Co-Lead
author Dr James Fox said “Working with colleagues across the Arthritis
Research UK Tissue Engineering Centre will help to bring our discovery
closer to patient treatment”.
Director
of research at the charity Arthritis Research UK Dr Stephen Simpson
added: “There are 8 million people in the UK living with the pain and
disability caused by osteoarthritis. We are fighting to find better
treatments and one day, a cure. This research is exciting and
promising. Identifying specific stem cells that could help the damaged
joint to repair itself, takes us a step closer to our aim of developing
an injectable, safe, stem cell therapy for people with osteoarthritis.”