Dr. Richard Loeser receives award to study the microbiome and OA

Dr. Loeser’s team seeks to define the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 27 million Americans, and is the #1 cause of chronic disability in adults. Management of OA is limited by the lack of interventions that slow disease progression. A better mechanistic understanding of OA is needed to develop new interventions that target mechanisms driving the disease process. Mounting evidence suggests that metabolic alterations, a systemic low grade pro-inflammatory state, and activation of the innate immune system play key roles in OA. These same factors have also been associated with altered composition of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis), which in turn is influenced by diet, in particular a high fat diet that contributes to obesity. We propose that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, by promoting a chronic systemic pro-inflammatory state, can accelerate or worsen the development of OA when other risk factors, such as obesity or joint injury, are also present.

The unique multidisciplinary team of outstanding investigators will test the hypothesis that components of the gut microbiome contribute to the development of OA through activating innate immunity and promoting an inflammatory state. The success of these novel studies will have major public health implications.Defining a contribution of the gut microbiome to OA would indicate the use of microbiota profiling as a novel approach to identify individuals at risk of progressive OA and aid in the design of novel dietary, antibiotic, probiotic or prebiotic interventions to alter the specific components of the microbiome that contribute to OA progression.

In submitting publications, presentations and grant applications using data from your Phase I award, please remember to acknowledge the SOM Office of Research and TraCS Translational Team Science Award.