Hypertension linked to accelerated cartilage degradation in new study

Researchers at Chonnam National University in South Korea have identified a potential neuroendocrine link between hypertension and the acceleration of osteoarthritis. A study published in Science suggests that high blood pressure may contribute to cartilage degradation through the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) and its receptor, AVPR1A.

While AVPR1A is minimally present in healthy cartilage, its presence increases with age or following joint injuries. This increase appears to prime the tissue for AVP signaling, which triggers chemical reactions that break down the cartilage matrix.

Analyzing medical data from 36,820 individuals aged 45 and older, the research team found that people with high blood pressure have a significantly higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. This correlation was particularly strong in women and individuals with existing severe knee damage. Experimental models using mice also demonstrated that hypertension was associated with increased cartilage loss in joints already predisposed to osteoarthritis.