Lai-Chu Wu
Associate Professor
Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Academic information
- Department: Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
Research interests
- Osteo-immunology
About
Biography
My research interest is in osteo-immunology – the interaction of signal pathways and transcription factors that regulate bone development and immunity. Bones provide protection to vital organs and mechanical support to the body. They are also important for the regulation of blood, calcium and phosphorus and support of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. Hence, bone physiology and immunity have an intimate relationship.
Bone remodeling is a dynamic process, and bone mass is a balance between the activity of two cell types: osteoblasts for bone formation and osteoclasts for bone resorption.
My group has developed two transgenic mouse models to study bone development and inflammation. First, we generated knockout mice for a large zinc finger protein ZAS3 that is involved in transcription regulation, signal transduction, and protein turnover.
These ZAS3-/- mice show adult onset of high bone mass. Biochemical and genetic studies show that ZAS3 is essential for osteoclast differentiation and function. The ability of ZAS3 to block osteoclast development and activity and the fact that ZAS3-/- mice have better bone quality suggest ZAS3 could be a target for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Second, we used transgenic mice that contain a luciferase reporter gene whose expression is under the control of the happa B enhancer element, a ligand for ZAS3 and NFkB.
Using an in vitro imaging system, we study the effect of alternative medicine, including exercise and massage, to alleviate inflammation responses, including bacterial infection and arthritis.
Credentials
Education
- PhD
- University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Research
Research interests
- Osteo-immunology