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Related: About this forumHumans Can Regenerate Cartilage, Study Finds, Offering Hope for Arthritis Treatment
Humans Can Regenerate Cartilage, Study Finds, Offering Hope for Arthritis Treatment
By Leslie Nemo | October 9, 2019 3:59 pm
If you get a cut, itll heal. If you lose some skin to road rash, itll grow back. But lose a limb, and its gone for good. Unless youre a salamander, a zebrafish or an axolotl, of course all of which can regrow missing limbs. Now, scientists find that some of the molecules crucial to that process are at work inside of us.
Specific microRNA molecules are key to limb regeneration in salamanders. It turns out that similar molecules in our own bodies can produce new cartilage to heal old injuries in our joints countering previous beliefs that our joint cartilage couldnt repair itself.
The discovery that the molecules are active in our leg joints might help scientists unlock new treatments for arthritis, soothing aching joints by promoting the growth of new, cushiony cartilage.
So much is known about zebrafish and salamander limb regeneration, so how can that now be harnessed to accelerate human tissue repair? says Virginia Byers Kraus, a co-author on the paper and molecular biologist at Duke University.
More:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2019/10/09/humans-can-regenerate-cartilage-study-finds-offering-hope-for-arthritis-treatment/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20DiscoverBlogs%20%28Discover%20Blogs%29#.XZ6g3kZKjIU
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)the cartilage in my knees as I retire in a few months...so it would be nice if they could figure out a way to repair it.
I can't really run anymore because of the pain and instability...which makes it harder to maintain weight.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)my orthopedic doc at my appt next Monday.
My rt. knee's torn meniscus has mysteriously improved but now my left hip is giving me hell. So much so I've had to pull out my cane to help gimpy me walk. Therapies won't be available in time for me but there's hope for future patients.
BootinUp
(47,187 posts)RockRaven
(14,998 posts)timeframe, it won't matter what it costs...
and if it takes longer than that, then hopefully it will eventually be cost-effective enough compared to standard treatment for Medicare and private insurance companies to recognize it as superior...
flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)The cartilage in my tight knee is gone. I'm having surgery Friday.