Orthopaedic Surgery

Research and Members

A collage of three photo of students in the lab.

Diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis are major public health concerns due to their prevalence in our increasingly sedentary and aging society. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARG) transcription factor is a key regulator of glucose metabolism and energy expenditure. This protein also regulates lineage commitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We have demonstrated that PPARγ protein is involved in changing of MSC phenotype observed during aging and diabetic disease. Changes in the MSC phenotype include shifting of the MSC differentiation potential toward adipocyte (fat cells) and away from osteoblasts (bone forming cells) which leads to the bone loss with simultaneous accumulation of fat in bone cavities. PPARG is also essential for osteocyte function by controlling sclerostin expression, acting as a molecular brake for osteocyte bioenergetics, and controlling their support for growth of metastatic cancers. PPARG protein is a target for a class of anti-diabetic drugs TZDs which decrease glucose levels and increase insulin sensitivity. Prolonged treatment with classical TZDs leads to the bone loss and increased number of bone fractures in diabetic patients. However, selective modulators of PPARG activity may provide novel pharmacological means to treat simultaneously energy and bone metabolic diseases. 

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Current and past lab members

Shilong Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Shilong Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Current status: Orthopedic Surgeon in Wuhan, China

Amrei

Amrei Krings

Intern master student in the DAAD-RISE in North America Program
Current status: Robert Koch Institute, Research Fellow

Vipula Petrulu/Koli

Vipula Petrulu/Koli

Ph.D. student
Curent status: NIH, Research Fellow

Sima Rahman

Ph.D. student and Postdoctoral Fellow
Current status: Pursuing different carrier

Amit Sopan Chougule

Amit Sopan Chougule

Ph.D. student
Current status: Wayne State University, Postdoctoral Fellow

Sudipta Baroi

Sudipta Baroi

Ph.D. student
Current status: Harvard University, Postdoctoral Fellow

Emily Crowe

Emily Crowe

MSc student
Current status: pending thesis defense

Last Updated: 7/27/23