PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 9 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have discovered the protein lubricin in synovial fluid not only reduces friction but also boosts resiliency in joints.
A team led by Brown University physician and engineer Gregory Jay said the finding might lead to new treatments for arthritis.
Synovial fluid protects shoulders, hips and other joints from wear, reducing the likelihood of injuries and arthritis. Scientists have long believed synovial fluid obtains its surface-slicking, shock-absorbing properties from the "goo molecule" called hyaluronate.
"Protein components like lubricin are just as key as hyaluronate for protecting joints," Jay said. "What we hope to get out of this knowledge is better treatments for arthritis, one of the most common chronic health problems and the biggest cause of disability in the nation."
People with osteoarthritis in their knees can get viscosupplementation, a medical procedure that involves an injection of hyaluronate directly into knee joints in an effort to reduce pain and improve movement. The new research shows it might be beneficial to add lubricin to those injectable fluids, Jay said.
The research appears online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
