Stanford researchers reveal breakthrough method to regenerate knee cartilage

Stanford Medicine scientists have uncovered a promising way to reverse cartilage loss in aging knees and prevent arthritis after injury by targeting a protein linked to aging. In research recently published and shared by Stanford, blocking a protein known to rise with age helped restore healthy knee cartilage in older mice and reduced arthritis development after injuries similar to common ligament tears. Treated mice regained thicker, functional cartilage and showed improved joint movement compared with untreated animals. Early tests on human knee cartilage samples from joint replacement surgeries also demonstrated signs of new cartilage formation when exposed to the treatment, offering hope for future therapies that could regenerate worn-out tissue without surgery. This approach works by reactivating existing cartilage cells rather than relying on stem cells, which differentiates it from many current regenerative strategies. An oral version of the drug is already being tested in clinical trials for age-related muscle weakness, and researchers hope similar studies focusing on cartilage could follow. If successful in people, such therapies may reduce or even eliminate the need for knee replacement surgeries and offer relief to millions suffering from joint pain and degeneration.