In research presented at the Orthopaedic Research Society 2012 annual meeting, two biomarkers have come to light that might help in the development of disease-modifying treatments for osteoarthritis, a painful joint condition that is a result of wear and tear on the cartilage. Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit have linked the two biomarkers, short stretches of genetic material known as non-coding RNAs, with mild cartilage damage. Gary Gibson, director of Henry Ford's Bone and Joint Center and the study's lead author, said the results might suggest the discovery of a long-awaited biomarker for osteoarthritis, a leading cause of disability. The next step is to find out whether the concentration of the biomarkers can be linked with worsening cartilage damage. Press release