Featured Publications
Digoxin targets low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 and protects against osteoarthritis
Wang K, Ding X, Jiang N, Zeng C, Wu J, Cai X, Hettinghouse A, Khleborodova A, Lei Z, Chen Z, Lei G, Liu C. Digoxin targets low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 and protects against osteoarthritis. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2021, 81: 544-555. PMID: 34853001, PMCID: PMC9082564, DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221380.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4Lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4Digoxin useCohort studyChondroprotective actionChondrocyte anabolismHealth Improvement NetworkProtein 4Risk of osteoarthritisPathogenesis of osteoarthritisBinding of digoxinAtrial fibrillationChondroprotective effectsJoint osteoarthritisTherapeutic effectSerial screeningOA modelImprovement NetworkOsteoarthritisDrug AdministrationChondrocyte catabolismDigoxinJoint replacementNovel targetPotential stimulator14-3-3 epsilon is an intracellular component of TNFR2 receptor complex and its activation protects against osteoarthritis
Fu W, Hettinghouse A, Chen Y, Hu W, Ding X, Chen M, Ding Y, Mundra J, Song W, Liu R, Yi Y, Attur M, Samuels J, Strauss E, Leucht P, Schwarzkopf R, Liu C. 14-3-3 epsilon is an intracellular component of TNFR2 receptor complex and its activation protects against osteoarthritis. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2021, 80: 1615-1627. PMID: 34226187, PMCID: PMC8595573, DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPathogenesis of osteoarthritisTNFR2 complexTherapeutic effectSingle-cell RNA-seqIntracellular componentsReceptor complexExtracellular signal-regulated kinaseNuclear factor kappa BSignal-regulated kinaseCommon joint diseaseFactor kappa BChondrocyte-specific deletionProteomic screenElk-1RNA-seqTranscription factorsCell-based assaysTNF signalingTNFR2 pathwayInducible componentJoint diseaseActivity screenTherapeutic targetKappa BOsteoarthritis
2022
Penfluridol targets acid sphingomyelinase to inhibit TNF signaling and is therapeutic against inflammatory autoimmune diseases
Chen Y, Liu R, Cui Y, Hettinghouse A, Fu W, Zhang L, Zhang C, Liu C. Penfluridol targets acid sphingomyelinase to inhibit TNF signaling and is therapeutic against inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2022, 24: 27. PMID: 35045889, PMCID: PMC8767691, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-021-02713-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammatory autoimmune diseaseAnti-TNF activityNF-κB activationInflammatory arthritisAutoimmune diseasesAcid sphingomyelinase activityTherapeutic effectTumor necrosis factor αInhibitory effectTNFα-transgenic miceCollagen-induced arthritisSeverity of arthritisInflammatory cytokine productionM1 macrophage polarizationBone marrow-derived macrophagesNecrosis factor αNF-κB activitySphingomyelinase activitySmall molecule drug libraryRAW 264.7 macrophage cell lineMarrow-derived macrophagesAcid sphingomyelinaseDrug affinity responsive target stabilityCytokine productionChronic schizophrenia
2020
In Vitro Physical and Functional Interaction Assays to Examine the Binding of Progranulin Derivative Atsttrin to TNFR2 and Its Anti-TNFα Activity
Fu W, Hettinghouse A, Liu C. In Vitro Physical and Functional Interaction Assays to Examine the Binding of Progranulin Derivative Atsttrin to TNFR2 and Its Anti-TNFα Activity. Methods In Molecular Biology 2020, 2248: 109-119. PMID: 33185871, PMCID: PMC8112733, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1130-2_8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-TNFα activityAutoimmune diseasesTartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stainingAnti-TNFα therapyCollagen-induced arthritisInflammatory disease modelsGood therapeutic effectAcid phosphatase stainingGrowth factor-like moleculesTNF inhibitorsTherapeutic effectTNFα activityProgranulinFunctional inhibitionTNFR2AtsttrinDisease modelsPhosphatase stainingTNFRTNFαDiseaseInhibitionCritical roleDirect bindingHigh affinity
2019
Progranulin promotes diabetic fracture healing in mice with type 1 diabetes
Wei J, Zhang L, Ding Y, Liu R, Guo Y, Hettinghouse A, Buza J, De La Croix J, Li X, Einhorn T, Liu C. Progranulin promotes diabetic fracture healing in mice with type 1 diabetes. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences 2019, 1460: 43-56. PMID: 31423598, PMCID: PMC8138779, DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsChondrogenesisDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP KinasesFracture HealingGene DeletionHumansInflammationMiceProgranulinsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktReceptors, Tumor Necrosis FactorRecombinant ProteinsSignal TransductionTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaConceptsDiabetic fracture healingFracture healingTumor necrosis factor receptorProinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosisType 1 diabetes mellitusAnti-inflammatory signaling pathwaysCytokine tumor necrosisType 1 diabetesNovel therapeutic intervention strategiesGrowth factor-like moleculesTherapeutic intervention strategiesNecrosis factor receptorDiabetic fractureBone fracture healingDiabetes mellitusInsulin deficiencyAutoimmune diseasesTumor necrosisTherapeutic effectBone fracturesVivo modelDiabetesFactor receptorHealingIntervention strategies
2018
Chitinase-3-like Protein 1: A Progranulin Downstream Molecule and Potential Biomarker for Gaucher Disease
Jian J, Chen Y, Liberti R, Fu W, Hu W, Saunders-Pullman R, Pastores G, Chen Y, Sun Y, Grabowski G, Liu C. Chitinase-3-like Protein 1: A Progranulin Downstream Molecule and Potential Biomarker for Gaucher Disease. EBioMedicine 2018, 28: 251-260. PMID: 29396296, PMCID: PMC5835567, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.01.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGD patientsHealthy controlsGaucher diseaseDownstream moleculesExpression of CHI3L1Serum CHI3L1Serum levelsPGRN levelsTherapeutic effectClinical biomarkersPatientsPotential biomarkersNull miceCHI3L1ProgranulinElevated levelsBiomarkersWhole-genome microarraysDiseaseCHIT1Genome microarraysNovel regulatorImmunohistochemistryLevelsMice
2017
Progranulin derivative Atsttrin protects against early osteoarthritis in mouse and rat models
Wei J, Fu W, Ding Y, Hettinghouse A, Lendhey M, Schwarzkopf R, Kennedy O, Liu C. Progranulin derivative Atsttrin protects against early osteoarthritis in mouse and rat models. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2017, 19: 280. PMID: 29258611, PMCID: PMC5735869, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-017-1485-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTherapeutic effectOA modelPain-related markersAnti-catabolic effectsRole of progranulinDegenerative joint diseaseMurine OA modelMultiple murine modelsNew therapeutic alternativesTumor necrosis factor receptorIntra-articular deliveryNecrosis factor receptorInflammatory arthritisPGRN deficiencyOA phenotypeSafranin O stainingTherapeutic alternativeRat modelJoint diseaseOsteoarthritis progressionPreventative effectMurine modelCartilage degradationDegenerative factorsEarly osteoarthritis
2016
Association Between Progranulin and Gaucher Disease
Jian J, Zhao S, Tian QY, Liu H, Zhao Y, Chen WC, Grunig G, Torres PA, Wang BC, Zeng B, Pastores G, Tang W, Sun Y, Grabowski GA, Kong MX, Wang G, Chen Y, Liang F, Overkleeft HS, Saunders-Pullman R, Chan GL, Liu CJ. Association Between Progranulin and Gaucher Disease. EBioMedicine 2016, 11: 127-137. PMID: 27515686, PMCID: PMC5049935, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.08.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAllelesAnimalsCase-Control StudiesDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme ActivationFemaleGaucher DiseaseGene FrequencyGenetic Association StudiesGenotypeHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsLysosomesMaleMiceMice, KnockoutMiddle AgedMutationPhenotypePolymorphism, Single NucleotideProgranulinsProtein TransportConceptsGD patientsHealthy controlsGaucher diseaseGRN genePGRN KO miceSerum PGRN levelsPGRN-deficient miceHealthy control samplesSerum levelsPGRN levelsGaucher-like cellsKO miceTherapeutic effectRecombinant PGRNGeneral populationPatientsAnimal modelsBone marrowGBA1 geneLysosomal localizationProgranulin geneNull micePGRNDiseaseMiceChondro-protective effects of low intensity pulsed ultrasound
Uddin S, Richbourgh B, Ding Y, Hettinghouse A, Komatsu D, Qin Y, Liu C. Chondro-protective effects of low intensity pulsed ultrasound. Osteoarthritis And Cartilage 2016, 24: 1989-1998. PMID: 27364595, PMCID: PMC5071131, DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2016.06.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIL-1βHuman cartilage explantsCartilage degradationMesenchymal stem cellsIL-1β induced activationPotential therapeutic effectsChondro-protective effectsPathogenesis of osteoarthritisLIPUS stimulationCartilage explantsChondrocyte migrationWestern blot analysisLoss of proteoglycanTherapeutic effectNFκB p65Catabolic actionMetabolic alterationsNFκB pathwayOsteoarthritisReduced expressionChondrocyte metabolismInduced activationMechanical stimulationLIPUSStimulation