Cartilage MRI in the Study of Cartilage Physiology and Early Degeneration

The primary research interest of the laboratory is development and application of novel MRI techniques for the study of articular cartilage in the intact human joint. Our laboratory has developed the technique of in vivo cartilage T2 mapping of articular cartilage. Cartilage T2 is a measurable MRI time constant that is very sensitive to the structural integrity of the collagen matrix, primarily water content, and anisotropy of the cartilage collagen matrix. Loss of collagen fiber anisotropy, which occurs early with cartilage degeneration, and with increasing age, produces a measureable increase in cartilage T2 detectable with MRI. Current research activities are directed toward understanding senescent changes in the Type II collagen matrix as a function of age, and with onset of early osteoarthritis. Applications are also directed toward the effect of load bearing exercise on knee cartilage