Biolubricant for Arthritic Joints
Researchers at Brown University have discovered that a protein found in the fluid surrounding cartilage acts as a shock absorber, a finding that could lead to better treatments for arthritis. The protein, called lubricin, is found in synovial fluid, a viscous substance inside joints. To learn more about its properties, Gregory Jay, associate professor of emergency medicine and the project’s leader, compared two samples of joint fluid: one normal and the other from a person with a rare disease in which the body does not make lubricin. The researchers implanted fluorescent beads in the fluids. Then they used a video camera to track the beads. The tracks enabled them to calculate the viscosity and other properties of the two fluids. They found that synovial fluid is more effective at protecting joints when lubricin binds to hyaluronate, a salt also found in the fluid. Hyaluronate injections are already used to treat arthritis; the researchers hope that augmenting them with lubricin will boost their protective power, shielding cartilage from damage. Jay’s team is preparing a therapy for animal testing.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.