(Seoul National University School of Biological Sciences)
Achievement
Professor Kim Jin-Hong has pioneered basic science research on intractable frozen shoulder (rotator cuff disease), which is caused by degeneration of the tendons that make up the shoulder joint.
He discovered that when tendons are exposed to excessive or repetitive physical stress, a cytokine factor called CTRP3 disrupts the differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells, resulting in degenerative changes in the tendon and underlying loss of tension in the tendon. He also proposed the possibility of developing technologies to control the progression of intractable frozen shoulder by targeting CTRP3 using antibody therapies.
Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of cartilage, which is located between bones and absorbs and protects the shock transmitted to the joint. Kim identified an enzyme called tankyrase that identifies and regulates the regenerative signaling system inherent in cartilage.
