Stem Cells To Naturally Rebuild Human Joints

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Jul 30, 2010, 6:44:31 PM7/30/10

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Stem Cells To Naturally Rebuild Human Joints
Scientists have shown for the first time that it may be possible to replace a human hip or knee with a joint grown naturally inside the body using the patient's stem cells. In experiments on rabbits, the researchers coaxed the animals' stem cells to rebuild the bone and cartilage of a missing leg joint, according to a new study. "This is the first time an entire joint surface was regenerated with return of functions including weight bearing and locomotion," lead researcher, Jeremy Mao from Columbia University, said in a statement. Naturally-grown joints would likely last longer than the current generation of artificial mechanisms, he said. With aging populations and many people under 65 requiring replacement surgery, there is a real danger patients will outlive metallic joints and require a second gruelling operation late in life. In the experiments, Mao and colleagues removed the forelimb thigh joint of 10 rabbits, and then implanted a kind of scaffolding made of biologically compatible materials.