We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
ZeptoMetrix an Antylia scientific company

Download Mobile App




Biomarker Discovery Paves Way for Blood Tests to Detect and Treat Osteoarthritis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 May 2025

The number of individuals affected by osteoarthritis is projected to exceed 1 billion by 2050. More...

The primary risk factor for this common, often painful chronic joint condition is aging, and, like aging itself, there is currently no way to prevent it. Present treatments for osteoarthritis mainly focus on pain relief and surgical solutions. Now, a new discovery could potentially lead to significant advancements in both the detection and treatment of the disease.

Scientists at Henry Ford Health (Detroit, MI, USA) and Michigan State University Health Science (East Lansing, MI, USA) have identified a circulating microRNA known as miR-126-3p, which serves as a mechanistic biomarker for knee osteoarthritis. MiR-126-3p contributes to the reduction of blood vessel formation and lessen the severity of knee osteoarthritis, making it not only an indicator of the disease but also a potential factor in its development. Through studies involving four independent cohorts, the researchers discovered that circulating miR-126-3p levels are higher in knee osteoarthritis patients compared to controls. In six primary human knee osteoarthritis tissue samples, miR-126-3p levels were found to be the highest in subchondral bone, fat pad, and synovium, while the lowest levels were observed in cartilage.

In a surgical mouse model of knee osteoarthritis, treatment with both intravenous and intra-articular miR-126-3p mimics resulted in a reduction of disease severity in males, as published in Nature Communications. When applied to human knee osteoarthritis biospecimens, the miR-126-3p mimic treatment led to the downregulation of genes and markers associated with angiogenesis, as well as those related to osteogenesis, adipogenesis, and synovitis—biological processes that follow angiogenesis. These findings suggest that miR-126-3p is elevated in knee osteoarthritis and plays a role in mitigating the severity of the disease, supporting its potential as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target. With this new insight into miR-126-3p, scientists are now in a position to develop blood tests for diagnosing knee osteoarthritis and create treatments aimed at slowing or even halting the disease's progression.

“As we continue to advance our understanding of microRNA mechanisms, we remain hopeful that these insights will translate into tangible benefits for patients suffering from osteoarthritis,” said Jonathan Braman, M.D., Chair of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Henry Ford Health. “This breakthrough could open the door to precision medicine tailored to individual patients and ultimately fewer joint replacements due to osteoarthritis.”


Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Total Thyroxine Assay
Total Thyroxine CLIA Kit
New
Cytomegalovirus Test
NovaLisa Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The GlycoLocate platform uses multi-omics and advanced computational biology algorithms to diagnose early-stage cancers (Photo courtesy of AOA Dx)

AI-Powered Blood Test Accurately Detects Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Although over 90% of women exhibit symptoms in Stage I, only 20% are diagnosed in... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI-analyzed images from the FDM microscope show platelet clumps in motion (Photo courtesy of Hirose et al CC-BY-ND)

AI Microscope Spots Deadly Blood Clots Before They Strike

Platelets are small blood cells that act as emergency responders in the body, rushing to areas of injury to help stop bleeding by forming clots. However, sometimes platelets can overreact, leading to complications.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The new algorithms can help predict which patients have undiagnosed cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Advanced Predictive Algorithms Identify Patients Having Undiagnosed Cancer

Two newly developed advanced predictive algorithms leverage a person’s health conditions and basic blood test results to accurately predict the likelihood of having an undiagnosed cancer, including ch... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.