Norwich scientist targets osteoarthritis in new research
A leading Norwich scientist is aiming to find out more about an enzyme which could be crucial in the development of the common joint disease, osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis affects more than two million mainly older people in the UK, causing stiff, painful joints. It is a major cause of disability and there is neither an effective treatment to stop the disease worsening, nor a cure. The only available treatment is pain relief and replacing the worn out joints.
Now Dr Ian Clark, Reader in Cell Biology at the University of East Anglia, has been awarded a £78,088 18 month grant by the Arthritis Research Campaign to track down an enzyme which he thinks might break down tissue of the body, including cartilage in the joint.
Cartilage is the slippery substance at the end of bones, which acts as a shock absorber, and allows the joints to move freely. The wearing away of cartilage leads to the development of arthritis.
"We've discovered that a new enzyme called ADAMTS-16 is found in very high levels in the cartilage of patients with osteoarthritis," explained Dr Clark, who has been funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign for the past 11 years.
"These enzymes break down tissues of the body such as cartilage, and can be viewed as biological scissors which chop up the components making up these tissues. Usually the body controls these enzymes very carefully; however, in diseases such as arthritis this control is lost and the joint is damaged."
Dr Clark's project aims to find out exactly what this enzyme does in cartilage. If it is responsible for cartilage damage, it could lead to the development of experimental new types of treatment to counter its effects.
The Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) is the fourth biggest medical research charity in the UK and the only one solely dedicated to finding the cause and cure of all kinds of arthritis. Norwich is a leading centre of arc-funded research.
