Biomarker to Enrich for Inflammation-Resistant Cartilage to Treat Osteoarthritis

Stanford researchers have identified a biomarker on cartilage precursor cells that predicts which cells will develop into inflammation-resistant and functionally appropriate tissue for autologous transplants to treat osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterized by articular cartilage becoming inflamed and damaged. Current sources for cartilage tissue replacement often result in weak tissue that is dissimilar to articular cartilage. However, chondrocyte cells expressing the newly discovered biomarker have been shown to proliferate quickly, and the resultant tissue consistently resists inflammation and strongly resembles articular cartilage. Thus, this biomarker could offer a new source of cells with improved regenerative potential to treat osteoarthritis and inhibit further tissue damage.

Schematic demonstrates the signaling processes associated with CD24 presence or absence, ultimately leading to significant differences in tissue specialization and likelihood of inflammation.

Stage of Research:
The inventors have further demonstrated that a gain of CD24 function is beneficial in both normal and Osteoarthritic human chondrocytes and are currently testing the performance of CD24 rich cartilage constructs compared to the normal CD24 low cartilage constructs in rat models of cartilage defects.