Osteoarthritis Research Laboratory 

We are studying how osteoarthritis occurs with different risk factors, such as aging, obesity, and injury. We are actively looking for postdocs and graduate students to join us! Please directly contact Dr. Zhu at zhus1@ohio.edu.

Research

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We are studying how osteoarthritis (OA) occurs with different risk factors, such as aging and obesity, with particular interests in studying the role of cellular metabolism in OA pathogenesis.

Our recent findings demonstrate that one type of protein post-translational modification-lysine malonylation (MaK) is involved in chondrocyte metabolic dysfunctions during aging and obesity. We are studying how MaK is dysregulated and testing if MaK is good therapeutic target for OA. Another line of research is focused on studying the role of growth hormone (GH) in chondrocyte metabolism and OA development during aging. 

First Research Area

Sirt5 and protein malonylation in metabolism and OA

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Second Research Area

Chondrocyte lipogenesis and OA

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Third Research Area

Growth hormone (GH) in chondrocyte metabolism and OA

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