Molecular Underpinning of Degenerative Disk Disease
The Neuro-Informatics Laboratory studies the transcriptomic and proteomic underpinnings of degenerative disk disease. The goal is to establish new treatments that may use genetic or stem cell interventions to slow down or reverse degeneration or enhance regeneration of the intervertebral disk. The lab's team evaluated transcriptome profiles of a cohort of human lumbar disk tissue samples. They utilized high throughput next-generation RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed mRNA transcripts in the lumbar disk. These samples were compared with different musculoskeletal tissues such as bone, growth plate, articular cartilage, and muscle.
The lab's ongoing study aims to identify and analyze proteomics data and protein pathways using human intravertebral disk tissues harvested from surgical patients. Analysis and description of these gene-protein regulatory networks will allow the research team to identify therapeutic targets for gene therapy to help guide tissue regeneration in patients with chronic low back pain.