Investigating Heparan-Sulfate Binding Growth Factors in Cartilage Injury

保持健康的软骨是一项重要的努力，特别是因为关节软骨对损伤的修复能力有限。该项目旨在通过跨学科的方法研究软骨细胞外基质释放生长因子的机制，研究组织的细胞生物学和生物物理学。工作假设是损伤导致软骨中钠浓度的生物物理增加，这使生长因子从它们各自与硫酸乙酰肝素的相互作用中解离。研究将集中在肝癌衍生的生长因子，细胞周围基质隔离因子之一，并阐明其在软骨中的作用。通过使用原代细胞、软骨组织和体内模型，利用生理学相关模型探索软骨生物学的基本见解，并将有助于维持健康的软骨。重点领域：健康生物科学，基础生物学BfH，ENWW

Maintaining healthy cartilage is an important endeavour, particularly as articular cartilage has a limited capacity to repair in response to damage. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms behind the release of growth factors from the extracellular matrix of cartilage through an interdisciplinary approach looking at the cellular biology and biophysics of the tissue. The working hypothesis is that injury causes biophysical increases in sodium concentration in cartilage, which dissociates growth factors from their respective interactions with heparan sulfate. Research will focus on hepatoma-derived growth factor, one of the pericellular matrix-sequestered factors, and elucidating its role in cartilage. This fundamental insight into cartilage biology is to be explored with physiologically relevant models through use of primary cells, cartilage tissue and in vivo models and will contribute towards the maintenance of healthy cartilage.Focus areas: Bioscience for health, Fundamental biologyBfH, ENWW