Mechanotransduction is an essential physiological process in musculoskeletal cells. In diarthrodial joints, the musculoskeletal cells sense and transduce a wide range of mechanical loading into distinct sets of biochemical signals. This mechanotransduction process plays a critical role in the development, maintenance, degeneration, and regeneration of joint tissues. Using interdisciplinary methodology, The Lee Lab will deconstruct the function of key mechanotransducers (including Piezo ion channels) of musculoskeletal cells under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions and to translate the knowledge obtained from the research into designing diagnostic strategies and innovative therapeutic drugs to treat joint disease including osteoarthritis. In addition to musculoskeletal research, the Lee Lab plans to identify the ion channel-mediated mechanotransduction mechanisms of chondrogenic stem cells and cancer cells, since the proliferation of these cells is dependent on the stiffness of their physical environment.
