Modelling the progression of osteoarthritis via alterations to synovial fluid mechanobiology and microbiome

滑液（SF）是我们关节的润滑剂和减震器，也是无血管关节软骨的营养来源。骨关节炎（OA）是一种导致关节不可逆损伤的退行性疾病。骨关节炎是世界上最常见的关节疾病，它会导致严重的疼痛和关节功能丧失。大多数与OA相关的研究都集中在随着时间的推移而磨损的软骨上，然而，研究表明，在OA进展过程中，SF的多种改变同时发生，其中化学成分和润滑性能的显著变化。此外，尽管在正常的生理条件下，人们期望滑膜间隙是无菌的，但最近的研究报告指出，在OA患者和更令人惊讶的健康对照者的SF中都存在微生物或微生物衍生的遗传物质。该项目的目的是监测骨性关节炎进展过程中SF微生物组的原位（滑膜袋）实时变化。该项目不仅有助于阐明微生物组组成、炎症水平和复杂流体粘度之间的关系，而且还将揭示潜在的新型标记物，用于多种应用中跟踪流体变化，特别是用于实时OA监测和开发适当的原位（药物输送）治疗。

Synovial fluid (SF) is our articular joint lubricant and shock absorber as well as the source of nutrients for avascular articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to irreversible damage of the joint. OA is the most common joint disease worldwide and it leads to severe pain and loss of joint function. Most OA-related research focuses on cartilage that wears down over time, however, it has been shown that multiple alterations of SF occur concomitantly during OA progression, among which significant variations in its chemical composition and lubricating properties. Additionally, although under normal physiological conditions, one expects the synovial space to be sterile, recent studies report the presence of micro-organisms, or microorganism-derived genetic material in the SF of both OA patients and more surprisingly healthy control subjects. The purpose of this project is to monitor SF microbiome alterations in situ (synovial pocket) and in real-time during OA progression. This project will not only help elucidate the relationship between microbiome composition, levels of inflammation, and viscosity of complex fluids but it will also reveal potential novel markers to track fluid alterations with multiple applications, especially for real-time OA monitoring and development of appropriate in-situ (drug delivery) treatment.