Osteoarthritis Linked to Gene Variant

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 21 million Americans and 200 million people worldwide. Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males before age 45. After age 55, the disease occurs more frequently in females. All races appear to be affected equally. Also referred to as degenerative joint disease or wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in one or more joints.

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According to MSNBC, researchers in Japan have identified a gene variant which may cause osteoarthritis. After analyzing DNA from two groups of Japanese patients with hip osteoarthritis, the gene variant appeared more frequently in patients with hip osteoarthritis than in people who did not have the disease. The same gene variant was more prevalent in Japanese and Chinese people who had osteoarthritis of the knee as well. Researchers determined that patients who have the gene variant are 1.8 times more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Researchers also explained in the journal Nature Genetics that the gene variant is believed to reduce the amount of GDF5 (growth differentation factor 5), a protein involved in cartilage development.

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