Irish scientists have developed new early-warning tests for osteoarthritis, and they are now honing in on potential cures, writes HELEN GALLAGHER.
SWOLLEN JOINTS, aching bones and relentless, searing pain? You may be one of millions suffering from joint disease. Promising new research could however offer much needed relief.
Irish researchers are developing “early warning” tests for joint disease, work which they believe may ultimately lead to preventive treatments. The new tests for degenerative joint disease are being developed by Dr Alexander Yavorskyy, a researcher in the bioanalytical, chemistry and diagnostics group at Dublin City University.
“We have received funding from the Wellcome Trust over the past two years, and also from Enterprise Ireland in the past year, to develop tests for osteoarthritis,” says Yavorskyy.
“Osteoarthritis is an extremely painful form of degenerative joint disease and yet there is currently no drug available to treat or prevent progression of the disease,” he explains.
This disease can affect any joint in the body, turning movement that typically we take for granted into an excruciating ordeal. “As it damages the cartilage and bone, it can lead to inflammation, stiffness and even locking of the joints,” he says.
“Treatment of symptoms with anti-inflammatories or steroids may provide some temporary relief, but early detection allows better management of the disease through physical therapy and exercise plans,” Yavorskyy says.
Diagnosing this disease in the early stages is very difficult, he points out. “At the moment doctors examine the joint externally, or through X-ray once the disease is quite advanced.”
The severe pain of osteoarthritis is caused by “tiny crystals of calcium phosphate building up in the fluid between the bones”, he explains. “Once the osteoarthritis develops to the later stages, surgery for joint replacement can be the only option, and this is obviously traumatic for the patient.”
This new technology will allow doctors to diagnose disease progression much earlier by taking fluid samples from the joint with a syringe. “The new analytical tool will measure the amount of crystals in the joint fluid, known as synovial fluid,” he explains.
A chemical reaction between crystals in the sample with test dyes determines the level of disease. “Our technology measures the changes in fluorescence of the dyes as they react with the calcium crystals using a fluorescence microscope, and this indicates the levels of osteoarthritis,” explains Yavorskyy.
Further investigation into the cause of osteoarthritis is being carried out within the research group. “Techniques known as ‘proteomics’ are also being used to determine the structure and function of the proteins in the joint fluid. It is hoped that more can be learned about the cause of the disease, and that this will lead to the development of preventive treatments for osteoarthritis.”
Healthcare professionals are eager to see research into the prevention of osteoarthritis. “We are actively collaborating with Prof Geraldine McCarthy, consultant rheumatologist in the Mater Hospital, who is very supportive of this project,” says Yavorskyy
“We are also offering the testing to the pharmaceutical companies for use in tracking the progress of the disease as part of their research.”
As the team finalises this technology, Yavorskyy is hopeful that there will be companies looking to commercialise the research findings in the near future.
“Enterprise Ireland is keen to have spin-off companies established to manufacture the test kits once they are developed,” he says.