Fat harbors cells that could aid joints
By Linda Wang
Fixing an injured joint could become a matter of commandeering fat. Researchers at Duke University and the tissue engineering company Artecel Sciences, both in Durham, N.C., have found a way to trick fat into generating cartilage, the flexible tissue that lines joints and is often damaged in sports injuries.
Cartilage is both tough and tough to replace. Once damaged by disease or injury, the tissue doesn’t regenerate because it lacks the blood vessels for bringing in nutrients necessary for growth.