Oxford Study Finds Life-Changing Drug Could Prevent Arthritis

Researchers at the University of Oxford have found that Talarozole, a drug known to increase retinoic acid, is able to prevent osteoarthritis. (CREDIT: Creative Commons)

A new study published in Science Translational Medicine Researchers at the University of Oxford have determined that Talarozole, a drug known to increase retinoic acid, is able to prevent osteoarthritis (OA) in models of the disease.

About half of all women and a quarter of all men experience osteoarthritis (OA) hand stiffness and pain by age 85. A degenerative disease that affects all joint tissues, OA eventually causes the smooth protective cartilage at the ends of the bones to break down, causing the bones to rub against each other, causing pain. The 29 bones in your hands and wrists come together to form many small joints that can be affected by OA.

Tonya Vincent, professor of musculoskeletal biology and emeritus rheumatologist at the Nuffield Oxford Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), said: “Osteoarthritis of the hand is a common and debilitating disease that mainly affects women, especially during menopause. We don’t currently have effective treatments that reverse their disease.”

The researchers started by looking at a common gene variant associated with severe hand osteoarthritis. Using patient samples collected during routine hand surgery, as well as a range of experimental models, they were able to identify a key molecule that was particularly low in “at risk” people called retinoic acid.

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More than 40% of people develop osteoarthritis (OA) during their lifetime. Hand (OA) is an extremely common form of OA, and there are currently no disease-modifying therapies that are effective in relieving symptoms or stopping joint deformity and stiffness.

Professor Vincent added: “This project was only possible because of the interdisciplinary approach we took; working with our fellow surgeons, geneticists, scientists and biologists.”

Because talarozole has an acceptable safety profile in humans, a small clinical proof-of-concept study is currently underway to see if this drug could represent a novel disease-modifying treatment in patients.

Talarozol prevents atRA genes from being shed after injury and suppresses injury-induced inflammatory genes. (Credit: bioRxiv)

Dr Neha Issar-Brown, director of health research and information for the charity Versus Arthritis, which funded the study, said: “About 8.5 million people in the UK are living with OA. Although often overlooked as just a few aches and pains, OA can have a profound and far-reaching impact on life, affecting people’s ability to work, care for a family, or live independently.

“There is an urgent need for disease-modifying therapies designed to prevent or manage the painful symptoms of OA. This study reveals new insights into the causes of hand osteoarthritis, which may lead to the identification of new biological targets for intervention in hand OA.

Gene regulation in cartilage from people with hand OA after stratification by polymorphic variants in ALDH1A2. (Credit: bioRxiv)

“This research is still in its early stages, but with these encouraging findings, we have taken a big step forward towards being able to develop a new class of disease-modifying drugs to treat osteoarthritis, prevent chronic pain, and enable people to live well with their condition,” concludes Dr. Issar-Brown.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of osteoarthritis often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Pain. Affected joints may ache during or after movement.

• Rigidity. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable upon awakening or after inactivity.

• Tenderness. Your joint may be painful when you apply light pressure on or near it.

• Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move the joint fully.

• A determined feeling. You may feel a creak when you use the joint, and you may also hear pops or crackles.

• Bone spurs. These extra pieces of bone, which feel like hard bumps, can form around the affected joint.

• Swelling. This can be caused by inflammation of the soft tissues around the joint.

Causes of arthrosis of the hands

According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis usually occurs later in life without any specific cause. But several factors can play a role, including:

• Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to have hand OA.

• Gender: Women are affected more often than men.

• Race: Whites are more likely to be affected than African Americans.

• Weight: Obese people are more likely to have hand OA than lean people.

• Genes: Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis, usually at a younger age.

• Injuries: Even with the right treatment, an injured joint is more likely to develop OA over time. Fractures and dislocations are among the most common injuries resulting in arthritis.

• Joint problems. Joint infections, overuse, loose ligaments, and poorly aligned joints can also lead to hand or wrist arthritis.

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Note: Materials provided above by the University of Oxford. Content can be edited for style and length.

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