# Role of estrogen and mechanobiology on meniscal regeneration

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE · 2020 · $139,011

## Abstract

The long-term objective of the proposed work is to determine the role of estrogen and the mechanical 
microenvironment on meniscus health and regeneration to reduce osteoarthritis onset and progression. Knee 
osteoarthritis is a major cause of global disability resulting in over $6,000 in annual healthcare costs per 
patient. Meniscal tears are the most prevalent intra-articular knee injury and pose significant risk in the 
development of OA. Recent studies have shown that adult males experience greater tear complexity and 
have a reduced repair rate compared to females suggesting that sex hormones, including estrogen, may play 
a role in protecting the menisci from tear and promote repair. However, the differential role of estrogen and 
the mechanical environment on regional transcriptional changes, cell phenotype, and mechanotransduction 
have not been determined. Thus, this proposal aims to tackle this overarching question by evaluating the 
effect of estrogen treatment and substrate modulus on meniscal fibrochondrocytes in 2D and 3D. The 
hypothesis that physiological estrogen treatment and substrate modulus will promote an increase in meniscal 
extracellular matrix production and regeneration will be investigated in the following aims: 
1) Elucidate the role of estrogen via estrogen receptor alpha on meniscal fibrochondrocyte proliferation and 
extracellular matrix production 
2) Determine impact of substrate modulus on fibrochondrocyte migration, mechanotransduction, and 
phenotype in the presence of estrogen in 2D and 3D 
Deciphering the mechanism by which estrogen promotes meniscal fibrocartilage homeostasis is a vital first 
step in patient-specific repair and regeneration to reduce osteoarthritis progression and alleviate the 
corresponding pain and discomfort.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242610
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103638-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Lindsey Robinson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $139,011
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242610

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242610, Role of estrogen and mechanobiology on meniscal regeneration (5P20GM103638-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242610. Licensed CC0.

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