Scientists Regenerate Knee Cartilage by Targeting an Aging-Related Enzyme .

Could damaged cartilage regenerate without stem cells or joint replacement? Researchers at Stanford Medicine identified 15-PGDH, an enzyme that increases with age, as a potential therapeutic target for osteoarthritis. In older mice, inhibiting this enzyme restored cartilage lost through aging and reduced cartilage degeneration following knee injury. Human cartilage obtained during knee replacement also demonstrated regenerative responses in laboratory experiments. These findings challenge conventional assumptions about cartilage repair and suggest a potential disease-modifying strategy, although clinical trials are needed to establish efficacy in humans.