Viral-like DNA elements and joint aging in osteoarthritis
Endogenous retrovirus in joint aging and osteoarthritis development
['FUNDING_R01'] · VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · NIH-11323109
This project looks at whether viral-like DNA inside joint cells causes those cells to age and contribute to osteoarthritis in adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323109 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
They will compare joint cartilage and cells from adults with and without osteoarthritis to see how DNA packaging in the cell nucleus changes with age and stress. Using methods like ATAC-seq to map open chromatin and searching for activation of transposable elements (viral-like DNA), researchers will link these changes to inflammation, cell death, and cartilage breakdown. Laboratory models will mimic age-related stresses to test whether loss of silencing of these elements harms articular chondrocytes. The goal is to define molecular steps that could be targeted to prevent or slow osteoarthritis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with knee or hip osteoarthritis, particularly those undergoing joint replacement who can donate tissue samples, would be ideal candidates to contribute to this work.
Not a fit: People without osteoarthritis or whose joint damage is driven solely by mechanical injury rather than age-related cellular changes may not see direct benefit from these findings in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or slow cartilage damage by targeting chromatin changes or transposable-element activation.
How similar studies have performed: Chromatin-mapping and transposable-element studies have clarified aging mechanisms in other tissues, but applying these approaches to osteoarthritis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES
- VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE — GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YANG, TAO — VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- Study coordinator: YANG, TAO
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.