Scientists: Starfish Could Cure Arthritis
Updated: Saturday, 11 Dec 2010, 7:49 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 11 Dec 2010, 7:49 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 11 Dec 2010, 7:49 PM EST
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(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Scottish researchers have discovered a new potential treatment for arthritis. It comes from a seemingly unlikely source: starfish.
Charlie Bavington, founder and director of GlycoMar, a marine biotechnology firm at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, Scotland, pointed out that starfish live in the sea. He stated to the BBC that starfish are "bathed in a solution of bacteria, larvae, viruses and all sorts of things that are looking for somewhere to live."Yet, because starfish obviously don't want these other organisms taking a ride on their body, the starfish have developed a complex, anti-fouling surface that repels things in the ocean from sticking to them. It is this ability to keep stuff off of them that has vitalized scientists at GlycoMar, according to Radio New Zealand News . If they can replicate this property, then perhaps they can solve many inflammation problems in humans.
When a human is injured, one of the first things the body does to help solve the problem is inflammation. Whereas normally white blood cells flow freely through the body, when an injury occurs, white blood cells begin to congregate in the area, sticking to the blood vessel wall and causing that region of the body to swell in size. These white blood cells then release chemicals that help to attack any infection. They ensure that the injury heals effectively.
However, sometimes inflammation occurs when it shouldn't, such as with arthritis. In such cases, inflammation exists, even though there is no reason for white blood cells to stick to the blood vessel walls. This build up can then damage human tissue and cause pain and disfigurement in those who suffer from it.
The idea researchers have is that, if it is possible to cause the white blood cells to be unable to stick to the blood vessel wall, then arthritis will be effectively cured. Yet looking through every combination of chemicals until you find the one grouping that does just that is completely infeasible, which is why Bavington is looking to the spiny starfish.
The BBC quoted Clive Page, a professor of pharmacology at King's College London, on why this is so important. "The starfish is effectively providing us with … leads it had … billions of years in evolution to come up with," which significantly cuts down on the number of molecules scientists have to try out.
The research group is now creating man-made versions of the spiny starfish's non-stick goo that they will subsequently try out in blood vessels. They will see how it affects white blood cells' ability to attach to the blood vessel wall.
Finding new medicine from nature is actually one of the most promising areas of current research. As David Hughes, ecologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science , explained looking for an arthritis cure from a spiny starfish is no more strange than finding finding penicillin in bread mold or aspirin in willow trees.
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