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San Antonio Medical Foundation

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Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are widespread, afflicting between 5 and 40 percent of the adult population. TMJ disorder (TMJD) encompasses several conditions including orofacial pain, restricted mandibular movement, clicking and popping sounds from the jaw joint, and locked jaws. About 10 to 15 percent of TMJD patients have osteoarthritis, characterized by a degenerative joint which results from erosion of articular cartilage and degeneration of subchondral cortical and trabecular bone. Symptoms can become chronic and difficult to manage, severely reducing quality of life.

Southwest Research Institute
Daniel P. Nicolella, Ph.D.; Jessica Coogan

Impaired endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial function has been implicated in many of the obesity-induced etiology of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. We have identified Disulfide bond A oxidoreductase-like protein or DsbA-L as a critical regulator of adiponectin assembly and secretion in adipocytes (Liu et al (2008) Proc. Nat.Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 18302-07). DsbA-L expression in adipose tissues is significantly reduced in obese human subjects and animal models of obesity.

UT Health San Antonio
Liu, Feng