The Governors of the University of Alberta
Understanding the molecular and functional heterogeneity of human meniscus fibrochondrocytes and microtissue models under simulated microgravity and
hypergravity — The pair of menisci in each knee joint protects the cartilage of the joint from excessive stress and enables humans to walk or run with stable knees. However, the meniscus is prone to traumatic tears, especially during sports-related activities, with very little ability to repair itself and presenting a major risk for developing knee osteoarthritis. Recent work from the research team shows that the cells making up the meniscus are diverse. Some cells exhibit features that can repair the meniscus, some display osteoarthritis-like response to space’s low gravity and others show superior ability to make the proteins that support meniscus’ mechanical function in the knee. The research team will study the diverse population of human meniscus cells after exposure to low and high gravity conditions of spaceflight missions using a specialized machine to replicate the gravity conditions of spaceflight missions. They hope their work will shed light on meniscus repair and osteoarthritis.