Early stage research is investigating whether clearing senescent cells from injured joints may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to osteoarthritis (OA).
The risk of developing OA is significantly enhanced after joint injury. Pro-inflammatory and matrix-degrading molecules in the intra-articular joint space drive OA and can be produced by senescent chondrocytes. It is possible that the development of senescent cells in the joint after injury may limit the effectiveness of potential treatments.
The research, made possible by an award from the NC Translational and Clinical Sciences (NC TraCS) Institute, will enable investigators to perform in vivo studies exploring the potential of senolytic therapy for post-traumatic OA.
Dr. Diekman is an Assistant Professor and a Faculty member in the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center (TARC). Dr. Schnabel is an Assistant Professor of Equine Orthopedic Surgery at North Carolina State University, and is a TARC Affiliate.
CTSA grant (UL1TR002489)