Project 433952

OA is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability in Canada and worldwide. It has a large impact on the patient's quality of life, constitutes a significant socio-economic burden, and there is currently no effective treatment. Therefore, the need to develop an effective therapeutic strategy is an urgent necessity. The overarching goal of our studies is to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments. Our recent studies strongly suggest that the enzyme, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) has protective properties in osteoarthritis. In this project, we will use human tissues and a clinically relevant animal model of OA to define the functions and mode of action of L-PGDS in OA. These studies will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of OA and may be helpful in developing novel efficacious anti-osteoarthritis therapeutic strategies.