Nancy Lane, M.D.
Director, Center for Musculoskeletal Health
Endowed Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology
Director: Academic Geriatric Resource Program
Director: Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH)
UC Davis Health System

“Wnt signaling modulators and osteoarthritis, the bone and joint connection”

The wnt signaling pathway is critical for the formation of all organs, maintenance of tissue and respond to injury. The FRZB gene, encodes the protein, secreted frizzled related protein-3, sFRP3, a wnt antagonist, inhibits the translocation of Beta catenin into the nucleus and reduces cartilage breakdown but simultaneously reduces bone formation.  Variant alleles of this FRZB gene are associated with the development of hip osteoarthritis, the acquisition of hip shape, and serum levels of sFRP3 is a prognostic biomarker for the development of hip osteoarthritis. In summary, a critical signaling pathway for organ development is intimately involved in tissue maintenance and repair. The identification of the wnt modulating proteins hold promise for the treatment of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.

When: Thursday November 14, 2013  4:10 PM

Where: 1005 GBSF