Stem cells treat osteoarthritis
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Murdoch University
Murdoch researchers may have unlocked the key to treating the early
onset of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis results in loss of cartilage which cannot repair
itself after injury and for which there is no effective therapy.
Current treatments attempt to alleviate painful symptoms but are
unable to preserve the cartilage lining the joint.
Working with Australia's adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited
(ASX:MSB), the University's pre-clinical trials of Mesoblast's
patented adult stem cells had shown the therapy to significantly
protect cartilage against damage in knee osteoarthritis.
The project's principal investigator, Professor Rick Read from
Murdoch's School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, said the
studies have so far shown promising results.
"We are delighted with the significant cartilage protective effects
of Mesoblast's allogeneic (donor unrelated) cells in our large animal
model of knee osteoarthritis, without any adverse events of the cells
at all," Professor Read said.
The results of the trials signalled Mesoblast's expansion of its
clinical applications to inflammatory and degenerative diseases of
joint cartilage, such as osteoarthritis, which affect millions of
people world-wide.
Mesoblast's cartilage trials evaluated the effectiveness and safety
of the company's allogeneic adult stem cells to treat osteoarthritis
of the knee in 48 arthritic sheep joints.
The results showed that osteoarthritic sheep knee joints receiving
Mesoblast's stem cells had significantly greater thickness of joint
cartilage, reduced cartilage breakdown, and greater biomechanical
strength three months later than did control joints receiving
hyaluronic acid.
Mesoblast's Vice President of the Cartilage Regenerative Programs,
Professor Peter Ghosh, a world-renowned expert in diseases of
cartilage, said the results obtained at three months were very
encouraging.
"Professor Read's team at Murdoch University has been involved for
almost 20 years in the development and refinement of this model for
investigating new treatments for osteoarthritis,
said.
"We are very excited by the results of these studies using adult stem
cells."
http://www.sciencea
Professor Read said the project was another example of a productive
collaboration between the University's research experts and the
industry.
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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