Our lab is interested in the cytokine, growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins and integrins involved in the chondrocyte signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that regulate the biology of chondrocytes and bone cells.
Basic research is also carried out on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying chondrocyte differentiation and maturation.
We also study global changes in the gene expression in diseases tissues utilizing microarray and bioinformatics (Figure 2 ) utilizing non-arthritic and osteoarthritic cartilage tissues (Figure 3 ). We are also currently involved in characterizing the promoters of dysregulated genes in OA with promoter analyses... [more on the Abramson Lab's basic arthritis research]
Musculoskeletal disorders have a major impact on the health of the aging population. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common adult joint disease, increasing in frequency and severity in all aging populations. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common adult joint disease, increasing in frequency and severity in all aging populations. The estimated U.S. prevalence is ... [Abramson Lab osteoarthritis research overview]
Collaborative, interdisciplinary biomarker studies are underway in the Division of Rheumatology, including a NIH-funded knee OA biomarker study, investigating novel clusters of genes expressed by peripheral blood leukocytes that can identify patients at risk for radiographic progression.
[Abramson Lab Clinical Arthritis Research overview]
