A treatment that blocks an age-related protein restored cartilage in aging and injured joints by reprogramming existing cells rather than using stem cells. Researchers at Stanford Medicine report that blocking a protein linked to aging can restore cartilage that naturally wears away in the knees

In mice (of course) and human tissue exvivo. Earlier phase 1 studies with 15-PGDH has shown that it is safe and active in healthy volunteers.

Reference: “Inhibition of 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase promotes cartilage regeneration” by Mamta Singla, Yu Xin Wang, Elena Monti, Yudhishtar Bedi, Pranay Agarwal, Shiqi Su, Sara Ancel, Maiko Hermsmeier, Nitya Devisetti, Akshay Pandey, Mohsen Afshar Bakooshli, Adelaida R. Palla, Stuart Goodman, Helen M Blau and Nidhi Bhutani, 27 November 2025, Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adx6649

  • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Not in this case.

    “Stem cells survive much longer than ordinary cells, increasing the chance that they might accumulate genetic mutations. It might take only a few mutations for one cell to lose control over its self-renewal and growth and become the source of cancer.”

    https://www.hsci.harvard.edu/stem-cells-and-cancer

    • Lemmar@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      The news article, as well as the published work, state that:

      Cartilage regeneration appears to occur through gene expression changes in pre-existing chondrocytes, rather than stem or progenitor cell proliferation.

      Long-term side effects will need to researched of course and there might still be stem cells involved in the process, however that doesn’t seem to be the case according to what we know as of now.

      • rumba@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        I will gladly throw it on top of my monstrous pile of promising-looking research in hopes that it becomes a successful procedure.