Liverpool scientists promise "completely new approach" to arthritis research
SCIENTISTS at the University of Liverpool have been awarded a major grant of £42,525 by leading medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign, to carry out what they describe as a "completely new approach" into understanding the causes of osteoarthritis.
The team, led by Dr James Gallagher, head of the Human Bone Cell Research Group, are hoping the results of their year-long study will provide greater insights into the cause, cure and treatment of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis, which seriously affects around 1.5 million people in the UK, is a major cause of severe chronic disability and pain. It is caused by the wearing away of the protective layers of cartilage which cover the ends of bones where they meet to form joints.
Cartilage is living material which can adapt to resist the stresses and strains of weight-bearing and physical activity, and osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage fails to adapt wither because the physical loads are extreme, or because the cartilage cells are suffering from fatigue, ageing or disease.
"We believe that we have identified a possible mechanism by which cartilage responds and adapts to physical stress," explained Dr Gallagher. "Our theory is that a specific substance known as ATP is released by cells when they are compressed, and causes the surrounding cells to grow and repair the cartilage.
"For this project we have developed a new method to measure the release of ATP from cartilage cells. Ours is a completely new approach to understanding the response of cartilage to physical
stress, and we hope it will provide a greater insight into the cause, cure and treatment of osteoarthritis."
The ARC is the fifth biggest medical research charity in the UK, and relies entirely on public donations. Last year it raised more than £20m for research.
