BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Knees Up

Two molecules that promote cartilage repair show promise in treating osteoarthritis

17 February 2020

Knees Up

Osteoarthritis, which affects the bones in joints making them stiff and painful, occurs when the smooth rubbery cartilage protecting the ends of the bones breaks down. The deterioration can result from injury, or wear and tear, but either way few treatments are available aside from pain relief or surgery. In the search for new drugs, researchers have found two molecules that appear to protect and renew cartilage cells. Indeed, when injected together into the knees of rats with osteoarthritis, the molecules boosted the cartilage cushioning. The top panel above shows a healthy rat knee with thick smooth cartilage (white). The second shows stage 2 osteoarthritis, the third, shows progression to stage 4. And the last panel shows a stage 2 knee after the combination therapy with clear improvements to the cartilage. If such results can be recapitulated in humans, it’ll surely put a spring in the step of osteoarthritis sufferers everywhere.

Written by Ruth Williams

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.