Stanford scientists found a way to regrow cartilage and stop arthritis

Stanford scientists discovered that blocking a protein called 15-PGDH, which increases with age, can regrow damaged knee cartilage and prevent osteoarthritis in aging mice. The treatment restored lost cartilage and protected mice from developing arthritis after ACL-like injuries, and human cartilage samples from knee replacement patients similarly began producing new cartilage when exposed to the same protein inhibitor. If successful in humans, this approach could lead to drugs that repair arthritic joints and reduce the need for joint replacement surgery.