LONDON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- British scientists have used sophisticated electron microscope techniques to uncover the molecular structure of the thinner of the two types of collagen fibrils, which could provide clues to how the crippling joint disease osteoarthritis might one day be treated.

    Researchers from The University of Manchester, Britain, explained why mutations in cartilage collagen genes cause osteoarthritis, according to a press release by the University on Wednesday.

    "Without a detailed understanding of the structure of these fibrils, a treatment that prevents them deteriorating would always prove elusive. This research, while just a beginning, at least establishes some basic scientific facts that could prove useful in future studies on osteoarthritis and related conditions," Professor Karl Kadler who led the research was quoted as saying.

    The researchers said the ability of cartilage to withstand cycles of compression and relaxation is directly attributable to the collagen fibrils, osteoarthritis occurs when the fibrils are disrupted or lost - just like concrete without the steel, the cartilage becomes mechanically weak and susceptible to wear and tear, and eventually, the cartilage breaks down altogether and sufferers experience severe pain as the two ends of the bones rub against each other.

    Scientists have long known that cartilage gets its strength from interlocking millimeter-long collagen fibers that work in a similar way to the load-bearing steel rods in reinforced concrete, but the precise structure of these fibers or 'fibrils' has remained a mystery for more than 40 years, so hindering any progress towards the development of potential therapies.

    Following the findings of the research, the next stage of their work will be to determine the structure of the thicker fibrils and examine how collagen cells manage to produce these relatively large fibrous structures which are 1,000 times their own size, the researchers said.

    They said once how the fibrils form and develop in healthy cartilage could be understood, they can then investigate what happens when things go wrong in diseases like osteoarthritis.