Source: Interfolio F180
Martin Lotz, MD
Scripps Research Joint Appointments
Research Focus
Our research interest is in joint biology, joint aging, arthritis pathogenesis, preclinical and clinical drug development.
Since 1989 Dr. Lotz directed a program on joint aging and osteoarthritis. Our studies identified aging-related changes in cartilage and other joint tissues that determine risk for osteoarthritis.
We discovered that cellular homeostasis mechanisms are compromised in aging and that this represents an early event leading to tissue damage.We initiated a 'Joint Omics' project which uses next generation sequencing technologies to uncover aging and disease associated changes in the transcriptomes in joint tissues. Data from this project are being used to identify key regulators of the abnormal phenotypes of cells, with focus on transcription factors.
Our current studies address the role of FOXO, KLF and MKX transcription factors and the circadian rhythm pathway in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis pathogenesis. These transcription factors are also being investigated in meniscus, ligaments and spine. Efforts are ongoing to discover small molecules and genetic approaches to target transcription factors in the treatment of joint diseases and in tissue engineering.
Education
M.D. (Medicine), Heidelberg University, 1981Professional Experience
1997- Professor, Molecular Medicine (MM), The Scripps Research Institute1990-1996 Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California
1987-1990 Assistant Professor, Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation
Awards & Professional Activities
1994 NIH Merit Award1994 American Society for Clinical Investigation
2010 Basic Science Award, Osteoarthritis Research Society International
2005 Kappa Denta Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
2000 Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation
2019 Lee Howley Sr. Prize for Arthritis, Arthritis Foundation
Selected Publications
Fisch, K. M.; Gamini, R.; Alvarez-Garcia, O.; Akagi, R.; Saito, M.; Muramatsu, Y.; Sasho, T.; Koziol, James A.; Su, Andrew; Lotz, Martin K. Identification of transcription factors responsible for dysregulated networks in human osteoarthritis cartilage by global gene expression analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2018, 1531-1538.
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Alvarez-Garcia, O.; Matsuzaki, T.; Olmer, M.; Miyata, K.; Mokuda, S.; Sakai, D.; Masuda, K.; Asahara, Hiroshi; Lotz, Martin K. FOXO are required for intervertebral disk homeostasis during aging and their deficiency promotes disk degeneration. Aging Cell 2018, 17.
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Miyaki, S.; Lotz, Martin K. Extracellular vesicles in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis. Current Opinion in Rheumatology 2018, 30, 129-135.
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Alvarez-Garcia, O.; Matsuzaki, T.; Olmer, M.; Plate, L.; Kelly, J. W.; Lotz, Martin K. Regulated in development and DNA Damage response 1 deficiency impairs autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in articular cartilage and increases the severity of experimental osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology 2017, 69, 1418-1428.
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Matsuzaki, T.; Akasaki, Y.; Olmer, M.; Alvarez-Garcia, O.; Reixach, Natalia; Buxbaum, Joel N.; Lotz, Martin K. Transthyretin deposition promotes progression of osteoarthritis. Aging Cell 2017, 16, 1313-1322.
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Akagi, R.; Akatsu, Y.; Fisch, K. M.; Alvarez-Garcia, O.; Teramura, T.; Muramatsu, Y.; Saito, M.; Sasho, T.; Su, Andrew; Lotz, Martin K. Dysregulated circadian rhythm pathway in human osteoarthritis: NR1D1 and BMAL1 suppression alters TGF-ß signaling in chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2017, 25, 943-951.
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