My research focuses on understanding the molecular stimuli and clinical consequences of synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) and meniscal injury. We have identified specific inflammatory pathways that are over-expressed in patients with early-stage knee OA, including Toll-like receptor pathways and chemokine-mediated pathways. We are now exploring how these pathways impact OA development and progression after joint injury in animal models, incorporating pain-related outcomes with with translational relevance. The ultimate goal of our laboratory's work is to develop novel anti-inflammatory strategies to reduce pain and disability from OA.
Selected Publications
Q Wang, AL Rozelle, CM Lepus, CR Scanzello, JJ Song, DM Larsen, JF Crish, G Bebek, SY Ritter, TM Lindstrom, I Hwang, HH Wong, L Punzi, A Encarnacion, M Shamloo, SB Goodman, T Wyss-Coray, SR Goldring, R Gobezie, MK Crow, VM Holers DM Lee, WH Robinson: Identification of a central role for complement in osteoarthritis. Nature Medicine 17(12): 1674-9, 2011.
Nair A, Gan J, Bush-Joseph C, Verma N, Tetreault MW, Saha K, Margulis A, Fogg L, Scanzello CR.: Synovial chemokine expression and relationship with knee symptoms in patients with meniscal tears. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 23(7): 1158-64, Jul 2015.
Sambamurthy Nisha, Nguyen Vu, Smalley Ryan, Xiao Rui, Hankenson Kurt, Gan Justin, Miller Rachel E, Malfait Anne-Marie, Dodge George R, Scanzello Carla R: Chemokine receptor-7 (CCR7) deficiency leads to delayed development of joint damage and functional deficits in a murine model of osteoarthritis. Journal of orthopaedic research 36(3): 864-87, March 2018.
Sambamurthy Nisha, Zhou Cheng, Nguyen Vu, Smalley Ryan, Hankenson Kurt D, Dodge George R, Scanzello Carla R: Deficiency of the pattern-recognition receptor CD14 protects against joint pathology and functional decline in a murine model of osteoarthritis. PloS One 13(11): e0206217, Nov 2018.
S Kolasinski, T Neogi, M Hochberg, C Oatis, GH Guyatt, J Block, L Callahan, C Copenhaver, C Dodge, D Felson, K Geller, W Harvey, G Hawker, E Herzig, K Kwoh, A Nelson, J Samuels, C Scanzello, D White, B Wise, R Altman, D DiRenzo, J Fontanarosa, G Giradi, M Ishimori, D Misra, A Shah, A Shmagel, L Thoma, M Turgunbaev, A Turner, J Reston.: 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip and Knee. Arthritis & Rheumatology 72(2): 220-233 Feb 2020 Notes: DOI 10.1002/art.41142.
S Bansal, KD Meadows,LM Miller, KS Saleh, JM Patel, BD Stoeckl, EA Lemmon, MW Hast, MH Zgonis,CR Scanzello, DM Elliott,RL Mauck: Six Month Outcomes of Clinically Relevant Meniscal Injury in a Large Animal Model. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 9(11): 23259671211035444, Nov 2021 Notes: Accepted for publication.
CR Scanzello, KA Hasty, CB Chung, TM Griffin, NJ Willet, H Krug, Cong-Qiu Chu, D Ewart, S Jerban, JF Baker, CL Duvall, JM Brunger, JA Burdick, KP Spindler, H Drissi. : Teaming Up to Overcome Challenges in the Clinical Translation of New Therapeutics for Osteoarthritis. J Ortho Res. Online ahead of print, 42(12): 2659-2672. Dec 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1002/jor.25944.
AM Obeidat, SY Kim, KG Burt, B Hu, J Li, S Ishihara, R Xiao, RE Miller, C Little, AM Malfait, CR Scanzello: A standardized approach to evaluation and reporting of synovial histopathology in two surgically induced murine models of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 32(10): 1273-1282, Oct 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.05.006.
SY Kim, CR Scanzello: When “Synovitis” isn’t Synovitis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 33(1): 1-4, Jan 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.09.005.
LA Murphy, CR Scanzello. : Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying subchondral bone remodeling and associated pain in osteoarthritis. Connect Tissue Res. 66(5): 435-441, Aug 2025
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Last updated: 02/02/2026
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