According to the researchers of Murdoch University, osteoarthritis, causing loss of cartilage which cannot repair itself after injury, can be treated with adult stem cells. According to the researcher the special power of the stem cell to protect cartilage is very helpful in treating osteoarthritis.

Current treatments are aimed at easing painful symptoms but are unable to preserve cartilage lining the joint. However. working with Australia’s adult stemcell company Mesoblast, the university’s pre-clinical trials of allogeneic adult stemcells, which are taken from a donor, showed the therapy could protect cartilage against damage in osteoarthritis of the knee.

Mesoblast said the results paved the way for human trials to treat inflammatory and degenerative diseases of joint cartilage, such as osteoarthritis, which affected millions worldwide.

The project’s chief investigator, Professor Rick Read from Murdoch’s School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, said “Realistically we’re not looking at this as a treatment to completely eliminate the disease but rather to slow down its progression”.

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