An unusually aggressive, ancient form of Paget’s disease of bone has been discovered in medieval skeletons from the North West of England.
Paget’s disease of bone causes new bone material to be grown faster and weaker than it normally is, leading to complications.
Researchers used protein and RNA analyses to show that the disease that afflicted the skeletons was similar, but not identical, to modern Paget’s disease.
The disease affected 16 per cent of all remains found during excavations, with up to 75 per cent of the skeleton’s affected by the disease and some dying as young as 35.
Suspected cases of the condition had been found previously in other remains, but these diagnoses were uncertain and so the disease’s history had been unclear.
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Paget’s disease of bone is a common disorder that interferes with the body’s natural bone recycling process. It causes new bone to be generated faster than normal — but such is softer and weaker than it should be (Pictured: a collarbone showing visible signs of the condition)
Biochemist Robert Layfield of the University of Nottingham and colleagues first analysed six of the medieval skeletons that have been unearthed from the Norton Priory site in Cheshire, in the northwest of England.
The priory site contains the remains of an abbey that dates back to between the 12th and 16th centuries.
The researchers found that each of the remains displayed changes that were similar to those seen in modern instances of Paget’s disease of bone.
However, the changes to the structure of the bones were more extensive than in modern cases — affecting up to 75 per cent of each of the skeletons.
Examining the collection of the 130 medieval skeletons that have been excavated from the priory site, the researchers found that the disease was very prevalent, affecting 16 per cent of the individuals.
Determining how old the skeletons at their time of death, the researchers found that those with the disease had died as young as 35.
The authors, led by Dr Barry Shaw from the University of Nottingham, write in the study: ‘We identify an ancient and atypical form of Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) in a collection of medieval skeletons exhibiting unusually extensive pathological changes, high disease prevalence, and low age-at-death estimations.’
Paget’s disease of bone is a common metabolic disorder that interferes with the body’s natural bone recycling process. It causes new bone to be generated faster than normal — but such is softer and weaker than it should be (Pictured: a cross section of an unaffected collarbone)
It is believed that Paget’s disease of bone originated in Western Europe, specifically the United Kingdom.
Populations of British descent have the highest prevalence of the disease, which currently stands at approximately two per cent of individuals aged 55 and older.
The North West of England, where the priory site is located, is a particular hotspot for incidents of Paget’s disease of bone.
Archaeologists have previously unearthed human remains, dating as far back as the Roman Era, that have shown possible signs of the condition.
Despite this, the exact history of the condition has remained unclear.
Biochemist Robert Layfield of the University of Nottingham and colleagues analysed six of the medieval skeletons that have been unearthed from the Norton Priory site in Cheshire
The priory site (pictured) from where the skeletons were found contains the remains of an abbey that dates back to between the 12th and 16th centuries
Despite the unusual features of the disease-affected skeletons, protein-based analyses of samples taken from the remains revealed the presence of sequences of an abnormal form of a protein called p62, which plays a fundamental role in Paget’s disease.
The researchers’ recovered over 60 per cent of the ancient p62 primary protein sequence.
In addition, RNA sequencing of a malignant bone tumour in one of the particularly badly affected skeletons revealed a high expression of a small RNA molecule which is similarly prevalent in modern cases of Paget’s disease of bone.
RNA acts as a messenger for DNA, carrying the body’s instructions for the creation of proteins.
The authors suggest that similar identifiers for other skeletal disorders could be present in ancient human remains.
The full findings of the study were published in the journal PNAS.
WHAT IS PAGET’S DISEASE OF BONE?
Paget’s disease of bone is a common metabolic disorder that interferes with the body’s natural bone recycling process.
It causes new bone to be generated faster than normal — but such is softer and weaker than it should be.
As a result, the disease often leads to bone pain, deformities and fracturing.
The exact cause of Paget’s disease of bone are unknown, however researchers expect that a combination of environmental and genetic factors are responsible.
The condition most commonly occurs in the legs, pelvis, skull or spine.
Viewed under a microscope, this stain of Paget’s disease bone tissue shows a characterised jigsaw-like pattern
The symptoms of Paget’s disease of bone depend on the part of the body which is being affected.
In the skull, for example, the disease can cause headaches or hearing loss.
Whereas its influence on the spine can cause nerve roots to be compressed, leading to pain or numbness in arms and legs.
The condition is mainly treated using the same kinds of bone-strengthening medications given to individuals afflicted with osteoporosis.
Men and those over the age of 40 are more likely to develop the condition.
Although it shares the same name, Paget’s disease of bone is unrelated to Paget’s disease of the nipple.
