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Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Delta In Osteoarthritis, Anusha Ratneswaran

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 1 in 10 Canadians and is a leading cause of mobility disability worldwide. This condition is characterized by cartilage degeneration, subchondral bone damage and inflammation of the synovium, resulting in pain and joint failure. No treatments exist to stop the progression of this disease, and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. We previously identified the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) nuclear receptor pathway as altered in OA cartilage. In-vitro studies identified PPARd as a promoter of catabolic activity in chondrocytes, providing the foundation for my overarching hypothesis that PPARd inhibition is protective in OA.

I commenced …