About the Project
Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Dr Indira
Prasadam, researcher at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), is part of the team researching why osteoarthritis occurs and what can
be done to reduce the effects.
"Arthritis is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease in Australia, affecting nearly 20% of the population. Osteoarthritis
accounts for half of all cases of arthritis. Currently,
there are no clinically proven therapies to halt the onset or the progression of osteoarthritis. This means that the development of such
therapies are considered a national, as well as international, research priority. That’s one of the reasons why my colleagues and I at QUT
are researching osteoarthritis.
Currently, my team and I are studying how obesity and different components of metabolic syndrome contribute to the development of
osteoarthritis. To do this we are researching the cellular, structural, and molecular changes that happen in joint tissue in obese animals
and people. Obesity and metabolic syndrome, a condition which can include high blood pressure, diabetes and low levels of ‘good
cholesterol’, have been identified as the most significant risk factors for osteoarthritis. But these are also the most preventable ones.
The exact mechanisms underlying this link are still unclear. It has been assumed that obesity primarily influences the progression of
osteoarthritis by increasing joint loading due to excess body weight. However, this does not fully explain the association between obesity
and osteoarthritis in non-weight bearing joints. This suggests that rather than just weight related mechanical imbalances, there are also
more complex molecular mechanisms at play.
We have recently identified that excessive lipids, molecules involved in energy storage and cell signaling, place oxidative stress on
cartilage cells. This means that the cells are being suffocated, causing them to die. Over time, as these cartilage cells can’t repair
themselves, this results in joint damage.
The study results further showed that statins, drugs used to lower cholesterol, and antioxidants can protect the joints against arthritis.
The results of this study strengthen the argument for a clinical trial evaluating the possible protective effect of statins and other
routinely used antioxidants in people with arthritis.
Additionally, we are further exploring how obesity alters inflammation in knee joints. We hope to develop effective interventions to break
the obesity-osteoarthritis cycle and reduce the burden of joint disorders.
Currently, we are testing the hypothesis that reversing obesity through diet or exercise or a combination of both may the development of
osteoarthritis. This is a practical study that compares interventions which could easily be translated into treatments for
individuals."
Dr Indira Prasadam, 2017
