Protein found to affect HA efficacy
1 Dec 2015 by Evoluted New Media
Hyaluronic acid (HA), used to treat osteoarthritis, could be modified to become even more useful for patients after a protein was discovered that has a huge influence on its success rate.
Hyaluronic acid (HA), used to treat osteoarthritis, could be modified to become even more useful for patients after a protein was discovered that has a huge influence on its success rate.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, according to Arthritis Research UK, and is a chronic disease. To combat the breakdown of HA, a component of synovial fluid, HA is injected into the joints of osteoarthritis patients.
The efficacy of HA injections has produced mixed results in studies and researchers believe this is due to the amount of lubricin present in the joint when HA is injected. Lubricin helps anchor HA at the tissue surface allowing cartilage to be an area of low friction, scientists found.
Lead researcher, Dr Lawrence Bonassar, professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University said this finding "may suggest new formulations of HA that may be even more effective in the clinic."
Scientists at Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A have used the study’s results to bioengineer a new version of HA. Approved by the US Food and Drink Administration, it will be marketed under the name Hymovis from March 2016.
The study was published in PLOS ONE.
