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Osteoimmunology – “When healing turns into hurting”
Inflammation is our body´s protective response against tissue injury. A specialized set of immune cells enters the affected tissue and removes damaging organisms or molecules. Normally, inflammation resolves after the tissue is restored. Instead, if inflammation is sustained and becomes chronic, this ally turns into an enemy and promotes tissue destruction. Inflammation is a well-recognized, but incompletely understood phenomenon in osteoarthritis. Immune cells are frequently found in synovial and subchondral bone tissue, where they induce an inflammatory reaction.
At the biomolecular laboratory of the Osteoarthritis Research Center, we try to understand the orchestration between immune cells and osteoblasts or osteoclasts as well as nerves and blood vessels. Our research combines clinically relevant specimens with innovative imaging and molecular biology approaches. The ultimate goal is to develop an urgently needed disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis based on a targeting with the ever-growing arsenal of anti-inflammatory compounds.
Synovial Fluid Biomarker Analysis – “Searching for the Needle in the Haystack”
Synovial fluid is the lubricant of the joints and a source of nutrients for the cells that maintain the health of our cartilage. Also, this fluid acts as a trash bin that collects and disposes the metabolic products produced by cells in the joint tissues. As a consequence of damage and inflammation, an osteoarthritic joint accumulates different and more waste products. Therefore, identifying and measuring the waste products in synovial fluid, can help to diagnose a patient with osteoarthritis. In order to efficiently treat disease, early detection is of vital importance.
Taking advantage of the extremely high sensitivity and feasibility of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses, researchers at Osteoarthritis Research Center in collaboration are looking for waste products that are specific for different stages of osteoarthritis. First results indicate a similar metabolic environment in osteoarthritic and rheumatic joints, probably due to inflammatory and hypoxic processes. The ultimate goal is to develop a technique that assists clinicians in proper and early diagnosis of joint diseases.
Gene Therapy – “An InGENEious bone cast”
The principle of gene therapy for osteoarthritis is to use the patient´s cells in the joint as a factory for therapeutic proteins. Gene therapy is well-suited for a long-term and local treatment of tissues in chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Correct dosage of a therapeutic protein is essential for safety and efficiency of treatment. Conveniently, the gene therapy toolbox contains well-established options for matching the rate of protein production with the activity of disease. In other words, gene therapy acts as doctor within, who first diagnoses and then treats. Dr. Jeroen Geurts and his team in the Osteoarthritis Research Center operate at the forefront of gene therapy development. Research focuses on highly specific and safe targeting of cells in subchondral bone. From there, we try to combat pain, inflammation and mechanical overload.
The ultimate goal is to develop a long-term disease-modifying treatment for patients with progressive osteoarthritis based on local treatment of the joint with a gene therapeutic construct.
Experimental Osteoarthritis – “From Mice to Men”
Aging, a phenomenon we all experience, is known as the biggest risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. But what happens to our joints at an older age that makes them sensitive to this disease? To better understand the effects of aging, we need to study joints throughout their complete life cycle. It is obvious we cannot perform this research in humans. However, mice models of premature aging can greatly assist us in studying age-related changes of the joint in a short time frame.
In collaboration with renowned researchers from the Departments of Rheumatology and Anatomy here in Basel, we investigate the relation between structural alterations in bone and cartilage and molecular changes in cells and mitochondrial function in premature aging mice. This project is under the lead of Prof. Ulrich Walker who is a world expert on mitochondrial function and supported by Prof. Magdalena Müller-Gerbl who has an amazing expertise in bone and cartilage morphology. The ultimate goal is to develop a treatment that is able to slow the progressionv of OA in older adults. This is extremely relevant, since our population as a whole ages.
Tendon Repair – “Keeping Things Together”
Tendon injuries are frequent in athletes and persons who lack daily physical activity. Tendinopathies differ from acute injuries, such as partial or complete rupture, in cause, symptoms and treatment. Pain and muscle atrophy are common consequences of tendon injury. The Achilles tendon, biceps and patellar tendon are most frequently effected.
Our aim is to improve the knowledge on the biomechanical role of tendons in specific pathologies, including osteoarthritis. In addition, we investigate the mechanisms of the tendon healing process. Currently, we are conducting a multicenter study on Achilles tendon ruptures that evaluates open, percutaneous and conservative treatment approaches. Additional research efforts focus on innovative techniques for enhanced tendon healing after suturing, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy and development of “tendon patches”.