Lab Research

Research

The following are proposed pathways for OA being investigated in the Kooyman Lab.

The upper schematic summarizes the proposed HtrA1-Ddr2-MMP13 mechanism of cartilage degradation in collagen mutant models of OA. If the risk factors or initiating causes of OA each activate a separate pathway, the problem regarding treatment is magnified, whereas if all or most initiating causes activate a common molecular pathway, the problem regarding therapy is simplified as shown in the lower diagram.