Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine researchers find promising avenue for osteoarthritis prevention

A groundbreaking study conducted by a team of Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine researchers reveals that limiting growth hormone reception may significantly reduce the development of osteoarthritis, a chronic, degenerative disorder in which joint tissues break down over time. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of adults over the age of 55 live with osteoarthritis, experiencing symptoms such as joint pain, joint deformity and decreased range of motion. Given the prevalence of the condition, this study’s findings open a promising avenue for new treatments aimed at preventing joint degeneration in older adults.

“We are the first to report that, in mouse models, growth hormone receptor disruption decreases the likelihood of osteoarthritis development in the knee joint,” said the study’s corresponding author, Shouan Zhu, Ph.D., Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O., Endowed Professor, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Heritage College and an investigator with the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI) and the Diabetes Institute (DI).

The pituitary gland naturally secretes growth hormone, which binds to growth hormone receptors on cells, and stimulates processes such as muscle and bone development in children, as well as tissue repair. It also maintains metabolism in adults. As the body ages, growth hormone secretion normally declines; however, in some cases, this process may be dysregulated–causing complications such as diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis.

The present study–published in GeroScience–demonstrated in mouse models that inhibiting growth hormone improved joint health as the mice aged, raising the possibility that using a growth hormone inhibitor might also help  people.

“Our team’s work has provided the foundation for future translational research, testing the therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting growth hormone signaling as a treatment for osteoarthritis in human patients,” said co-lead author, Huanhuan Liu, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Heritage College’s Department of Biomedical Sciences. Liu is also affiliated with OMNI.

Growth hormone inhibitors are currently offered as a treatment for acromegaly–a rare condition in which growth hormone is overproduced, causing rapid tissue and bone growth–but there is potential for these treatments to be repurposed to prevent osteoarthritis development. One of the inhibitors called SOMAVERT (Pegvisomant for injection) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is used worldwide to treat acromegaly. It was discovered by John Kopchick, Ph.D., Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar, distinguished professor of molecular biology and a global leader in growth hormone research.

“This is a fruitful collaboration with Kopchick’s lab. All of the mouse models used come from his lab,” Zhu said. “Without him, this study would not have been successful.”

Both Drs. Zhu and Lui are hopeful their work will someday change the lives of patients living with the chronic joint disorder but emphasize that taking this research to the clinical trial stage will likely be a lengthy process.

The research was conducted with significant contributions made by Heritage College student researcher and co-lead author Trent Davis, OMS-IV. Additional co-investigators from Heritage College include faculty members Silvana Duran-Ortiz, Ph.D., Darlene Berryman, Ph.D., and Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.; as well as student researchers Tom Martino, Austin Erdely and Shane Profio. Contributions were also made by co-investigators Benjamin Osipov, Ph.D., and Gabriela Loots, Ph.D. with University of California Davis Health.