A non-obvious factor in accelerating joint destruction has been revealed

High blood pressure can accelerate the breakdown of joint cartilage and the progression of osteoarthritis. Scientists have discovered a hormonal mechanism that explains this connection. The results of the study were published in the journal Science.

The researchers analyzed data from 36,820 people over 45 years of age. Hypertension was associated with osteoarthritis, and the association was stronger with more severe knee damage.

Experiments on mice have shown that high blood pressure increases the level of vasopressin, a hormone involved in blood pressure regulation. It enters the joints and affects damaged or aging cartilage.

In such cartilage, there are more AVPR1A receptors that are sensitive to vasopressin. Their activation enhances the production of enzymes that destroy cartilage, and at the same time reduces the formation of collagen and other substances necessary for its restoration.

When scientists blocked these receptors in mice, hypertension stopped accelerating cartilage destruction. However, conventional medications for high blood pressure did not give such an effect.

The authors believe that the discovered mechanism could become a new target for the treatment of osteoarthritis.