Health News Article | Reuters.com

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Australian Scientists Find Arthritis-Causing Enzyme

Thu Mar 31, 2005 01:01 AM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian scientists have identified an enzyme that

destroys cartilage in mice and believe the find may lead to new drugs

which stop cartilage joint deterioration and painful arthritis in

humans.

" We consider this to be a significant advance because until now we did

not know what enzyme was doing the damage, " researcher Fosang

from the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Childrens Research

Institute told Reuters on Thursday.

Fosang was confident that the same enzyme, ADAMTS5, would be involved

with breaking down cartilage in humans.

" This could lead to the development of inhibitors which can be

prescribed to patients with arthritis, " Fosang said.

" For elderly people with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis you can hope

that they will never have to have a joint replacement because their

cartilage will survive, " Fosang told Reuters.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews & storyID=8043784