Bone and cartilage interaction during osteoarthritis

Role of subchondral osteoblasts in articular cartilage ossification during osteoarthritic pathogenesis: a new insight to develop potential prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis. 



Funding year: 2009



Amount funded: $28,082



Lead researcher:
Associate Professor Yin Xiao, School of Engineering Systems, Queensland University of Technology 



Research team:
Professor Ross Crawford, Chair of Orthopaedic Research, Queensland University of Technology / The Prince Charles Hospital



Location of research:
The Prince Charles Hospital
Queensland University of Technology



Project description:
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of musculoskeletal disorder affecting an ever-increasing number of Australians. The underlying causes of osteoarthritis are largely unknown, which makes effective preventative treatments elusive.

Recent observations in our laboratory indicate that cell-cell interactions between the cartilage forming chondrocytes and the underlying sub-chondral osteoblasts sets in train cell physiological events eventually leading to deterioration of the structure and function of the cartilage. One important factor appears to be variation in the degree and nature of articular cartilage mineralisation.

The principal objective of this project is to uncover factors responsible for articular cartilage mineralisation and to identify the link between articular cartilage mineralisation and cartilage degradation, two features typical of osteoarthritis. Knowledge of what factors drive these processes is a prerequisite to develop therapies in order to treat osteoarthritis at its early stages, thereby potentially preventing the pain and discomfort suffered by patients with late stage osteoarthritis.