| abstract |
The invention discloses PI3K, PKB, IL-1, and OSM as suitable targets for the development of new therapeutics to treat, prevent or ameliorate osteoarthritis (OA). The invention relates to methods to treat, prevent or ameliorate OA and pharmaceutical compositions therefor comprising substances with inhibitory effects on PI3K and/or PKB enzyme activity and/or gene expression and IL-1 and/or OSM activity or gene expression. The invention also relates to a method to identify compounds with therapeutic usefulness to treat OA, comprising identifying compounds that can effect PI3K and/or PKB activity and/or gene expression and/or IL-1 or OSM activation of PI3K and/or PKB activity and/or gene expression which leads to downregulation of AGG-1 and/or COL-3 and thus prevent, treat or ameliorate OA in vivo. |