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Lubricin contained in synovial fluid may reduce cartilage wear
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An in-vitro study conducted by researchers at Duke and Brown universities resulted in one of the few studies to characterize the role of glycoprotein lubricin molecules — a synovial fluid constituent — in mediating cartilage wear.
The researchers presented their findings at the American Vacuum Society 57th International Symposium & Exhibition last week.
For their investigation, Stefan Zauscher, PhD, of Duke University, and colleagues induced cartilage wear with colloidal probe microscopy, defining wear as significant change in the average height of the cartilage surface. To draw their conclusions, they correlated the cartilage surface height in various tested locations with those where lubricin was present.
“Our measurements were performed at the surface level using an atomic force microscopy with pressures and sliding speeds comparable to those seen in joints. The measurements show a direct link between lubricin in solution and reduction of cartilage wear,” Zauscher, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Duke, stated in an American Institute of Physics press release.
“The height change in locations worn in the presence of lubricin was significantly less than in those worn in the control solution,” the researchers wrote in their abstract.
This indicates that lubricin is important for cartilage preservation physiologically, which may have important implications for treating or preventing joint disease in the future, according to the release.
Reference:
Coles JM, Chang DP, Zhang L, et al. Lubricin reduces microscale cartilage wear. Paper #WeA-7. Presented at the AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition. Oct. 17-22, 2010. Albuquerque. N.M.
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