How body fat affects osteoarthritis
The Role of Fat in Osteoarthritis
This research looks at whether fat tissue and the signals it releases harm joint cartilage in people with osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110454 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found that mice born without fat were protected from osteoarthritis, and that transplanting fat back into those mice brought back joint damage, suggesting fat itself (not just body weight) can harm joints. To pinpoint which fat-derived signals cause damage, the team will create lab-grown fat using mouse induced pluripotent stem cells and use those implants to study how adipokines affect cartilage and bone. The work uses animal models and engineered tissue to separate mechanical effects of weight from inflammatory effects of fat. Findings will guide future steps to test targeted therapies in people with obesity-related osteoarthritis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with osteoarthritis—especially those whose disease is linked to obesity or metabolic syndrome—would be most relevant for future clinical translation.
Not a fit: People without osteoarthritis or whose joint problems are mainly due to injury rather than metabolic or fat-related factors are unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify fat-derived targets to slow or prevent joint damage and lead to new treatments for obesity-related osteoarthritis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked adipokines to osteoarthritis and the team's mouse data showed protection in fat-free animals, but using bioengineered fat implants and iPSC-derived adipose to pinpoint harmful signals is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collins, Kelsey Helen-Marie — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Collins, Kelsey Helen-Marie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.