Heterotopic ossification (HO) is the growth of bone where it doesn’t belong, such as in muscle tissue
HO is most often observed after joint surgery in patients with severe trauma
and can cause swelling, pain, nerve compression, and other complications
While effective treatment and prevention strategies are currently lacking
researchers are beginning to zero in on the molecular pathways that trigger HO
It all starts with hypoxia, a state of oxygen deprivation that accompanies tissue damage
Hypoxia activates the protein HIF-1α
In certain patients, HIF-1α acts as a gateway to HO in at least three ways
By stimulating proteins that lay the groundwork for new bone and cartilage
By promoting blood vessel formation
And by suppressing a protein that normally limits bone growth
Drugs that reduce hypoxia or block HIF-1α could therefore prove powerful helping to stop HO early in its development