- A protein called 15-PGDH, which increases with age, is targeted to regenerate cartilage in old mice and prevent arthritis after knee injuries.
- Inhibiting 15-PGDH with injections or an oral drug (in clinical trials) reversed cartilage loss, offering a potential alternative to knee and hip replacements.
- The treatment works by rejuvenating existing chondrocytes in cartilage without involving stem cells, shifting gene expression to a more youthful state.
- In human tissue from knee replacements, the inhibitor reduced cartilage degradation and promoted regeneration of functional articular cartilage.
- This approach addresses osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease affecting many adults, with no current drug to slow or reverse it.