Furthering osteoarthritis research
EC-funded CYTOKINES DESTR OA project concentrated on the role of cytokines in osteoarthritis (OA). OA is an autoimmune disease which essentially means that the body's own immune system turns on particular components of the human body, failing to recognise them as 'self'. Cytokines are proteins involved in a number of immune functions, including inflammation. Project partner University Medical Centre Nijmegen set out to investigate their role in OA pathology. One of the first stages of that process is to develop the necessary tools based on which research can be carried out. Researchers developed an osteoarthritis murine model with the intention of using it for drug screenings. In other words, such models can be used to test the efficacy of potentially useful compounds in animal tests. The specific OA model is being optimised and efforts are focused in reducing the variability associated with OA pathology induction. The University Medical Centre Nijmegen has also developed a range of immortalised chondrocyte cell lines also with the aim of isolating pharmaceutically useful compounds. The particular area of focus is inhibitors of cytokine and growth factor activation which play an important role in OA pathology. Researchers are keen to explore the potential of this line of research through appropriately structured deals with the pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology sector.
