Amy McNulty | Scholars@Duke

Amy McNulty
Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery

The long term goals of the McNulty lab are to develop strategies to prevent osteoarthritis and to promote tissue repair and regeneration following joint injury. In order to achieve these goals, we need to understand the mechanisms necessary for tissue repair and regeneration and how they are altered with aging and joint injury. Specifically, we are working to enhance the integrative repair of meniscus to restore meniscal function and decrease the risk of osteoarthritis development. We have identified IL-1 and TNF as inhibitors of integrative meniscal repair and are developing novel methods to suppress inflammation and the downstream mediators of these cytokines to promote tissue repair. Furthermore, we are working to understand the pathways that are activated by normal and injurious mechanical loading of joint tissues and how these mechanotransduction pathways are altered during aging. A greater understanding of alterations in mechanosensitive signaling mechanisms with aging and injury will likely reveal potential targets to prevent tissue degeneration and osteoarthritis.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedics, Orthopaedics 2015
Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Pathology, Clinical Science Departments 2015
Affiliate of the Regeneration Next Initiative, Regeneration Next Initiative, Institutes and Centers 2016

Contact Information

355A MSRB1, Durham, NC 27710
DUMC Box 3093, Durham, NC 27710
alr@duke.edu (919) 684-6882

Background
Duke Appointment History
- Medical Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedics, Orthopaedics 2012 - 2015
Research
Selected Grants
- Improving Meniscus Repair Using a Meniscus-derived Matrix Allograft awarded by Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation 2018 - 2020
- Obesity, Biomechanics, and Inflammation in Osteoarthritis awarded by National Institutes of Health 2013 - 2016
- Strategies to Enhance Integrative Repair of the Meniscus awarded by National Institutes of Health 2008 - 2011
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Collins, AT, Hatcher, CC, Kim, SY, Ziemian, SN, Spritzer, CE, Guilak, F, DeFrate, LE, and McNulty, AL. "Selective Enzymatic Digestion of Proteoglycans and Collagens Alters Cartilage T1rho and T2 Relaxation Times." Annals of Biomedical Engineering 47, no. 1 (January 2019): 190-201. Full Text
  - Cao, C, Ren, Y, Barnett, AS, Mirando, AJ, Rouse, D, Mun, SH, Park-Min, K-H, McNulty, AL, Guilak, F, Karner, CM, Hilton, MJ, and Pitt, GS. "Increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV1.2 promotes bone formation and prevents estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss." JCI insight 2, no. 22 (November 16, 2017). Full Text
  - Liu, B, Lad, NK, Collins, AT, Ganapathy, PK, Utturkar, GM, McNulty, AL, Spritzer, CE, Moorman, CT, Sutter, EG, Garrett, WE, and DeFrate, LE. "In Vivo Tibial Cartilage Strains in Regions of Cartilage-to-Cartilage Contact and Cartilage-to-Meniscus Contact in Response to Walking." The American Journal of Sports Medicine 45, no. 12 (October 2017): 2817-2823. Full Text
  - Furman, BD, Kent, CL, Huebner, JL, Kraus, VB, McNulty, AL, Guilak, F, and Olson, SA. "CXCL10 is upregulated in synovium and cartilage following articular fracture." Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society (September 14, 2017). Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Liu, B, Goode, AP, Carter, TE, Utturkar, GM, Huebner, JL, Taylor, DC, Moorman, CT, Garrett, WE, Kraus, VB, Guilak, F, DeFrate, LE, and McNulty, AL. "Matrix metalloproteinase activity and prostaglandin E2 are elevated in the synovial fluid of meniscus tear patients." Connective Tissue Research 58, no. 3-4 (May 2017): 305-316. Full Text
  - Rai, MF, and McNulty, AL. "Meniscus beyond mechanics: Using biology to advance our understanding of meniscus injury and treatment." Connective tissue research 58, no. 3-4 (May 2017): 221-224. Full Text
  - Hatcher, CC, Collins, AT, Kim, SY, Michel, LC, Mostertz, WC, Ziemian, SN, Spritzer, CE, Guilak, F, DeFrate, LE, and McNulty, AL. "Relationship between T1rho magnetic resonance imaging, synovial fluid biomarkers, and the biochemical and biomechanical properties of cartilage." Journal of Biomechanics 55 (April 2017): 18-26. Full Text
  - Cucchiarini, M, McNulty, AL, Mauck, RL, Setton, LA, Guilak, F, and Madry, H. "Advances in combining gene therapy with cell and tissue engineering-based approaches to enhance healing of the meniscus." Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 24, no. 8 (August 2016): 1330-1339. (Review) Full Text
  - O'Conor, CJ, Ramalingam, S, Zelenski, NA, Benefield, HC, Rigo, I, Little, D, Wu, C-L, Chen, D, Liedtke, W, McNulty, AL, and Guilak, F. "Cartilage-Specific Knockout of the Mechanosensory Ion Channel TRPV4 Decreases Age-Related Osteoarthritis." Scientific Reports 6 (July 8, 2016): 29053-null. Full Text
  - Lee, W, Leddy, H, McNulty, A, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, W. "Inflammatory Cytokine Il-1α Up-Regulates Piezo1 and Hyper-Sensitizes Chondrocytes to Compression." Biophysical Journal 110, no. 3 (February 16, 2016): 349a-349a.
  - Carter, TE, Taylor, KA, Spritzer, CE, Utturkar, GM, Taylor, DC, III, MCT, Garrett, WE, Guilak, F, McNulty, AL, and DeFrate, LE. "In vivo cartilage strain increases following medial meniscal tear and correlates with synovial fluid matrix metalloproteinase activity." JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS 48, no. 8 (June 1, 2015): 1461-1468. Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Carter, TE, Taylor, KA, Spritzer, CE, Utturkar, GM, Taylor, DC, Moorman, CT, Garrett, WE, Guilak, F, McNulty, AL, and DeFrate, LE. "In vivo cartilage strain increases following medial meniscal tear and correlates with synovial fluid matrix metalloproteinase activity." Journal of Biomechanics 48, no. 8 (June 2015): 1461-1468. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - McNulty, AL, and Guilak, F. "Mechanobiology of the meniscus." Journal of Biomechanics 48, no. 8 (June 2015): 1469-1478. (Review) Full Text Open Access Copy
  - McNulty, A, Carter, T, Taylor, K, Spritzer, C, Utturkar, G, Taylor, D, Moorman, C, Garrett, W, Guilak, F, and DeFrate, L. "In vivo strain increases following medial meniscal tear and correlates with synovial fluid matrix metalloproteinase activity." Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 23 (April 2015): A95-A95. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Leddy, HA, Liedtke, W, and Guilak, F. "TRPV4 as a therapeutic target for joint diseases." Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 388, no. 4 (April 2015): 437-450. (Review) Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Leddy, HA, Liedtke, W, and Guilak, F. "TRPV4 as a therapeutic target for joint diseases." Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 388, no. 4 (January 1, 2015): 437-450. (Review) Full Text
  - Lee, W, Leddy, HA, Chen, Y, Lee, SH, Zelenski, NA, McNulty, AL, Wu, J, Beicker, KN, Coles, J, Zauscher, S, Grandl, J, Sachs, F, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, WB. "Synergy between Piezo1 and Piezo2 channels confers high-strain mechanosensitivity to articular cartilage." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111, no. 47 (November 10, 2014): E5114-E5122. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Sanchez-Adams, J, Leddy, HA, McNulty, AL, O'Conor, CJ, and Guilak, F. "The mechanobiology of articular cartilage: bearing the burden of osteoarthritis." Current Rheumatology Reports 16, no. 10 (October 2014): 451-null. (Review) Full Text
  - Sanchez-Adams, J, Leddy, HA, Mcnulty, AL, O conor, CJ, and Guilak, F. "The Mechanobiology of Articular Cartilage: Bearing the Burden of Osteoarthritis (Accepted)." Current Rheumatology Reports (September 26, 2014). Full Text
  - Leddy, HA, McNulty, AL, Lee, SH, Rothfusz, NE, Gloss, B, Kirby, ML, Hutson, MR, Cohn, DH, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, W. "Follistatin in chondrocytes: the link between TRPV4 channelopathies and skeletal malformations." Faseb Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 28, no. 6 (June 2014): 2525-2537. Full Text
  - Leddy, HA, McNulty, AL, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, W. "Unraveling the mechanism by which TRPV4 mutations cause skeletal dysplasias." Rare Diseases (Austin, Tex.) 2, no. 1 (January 2014): e962971-null. (Addendum) Full Text
  - Chen, Y, Williams, SH, McNulty, AL, Hong, JH, Lee, SH, Rothfusz, NE, Parekh, PK, Moore, C, Gereau, RW, Taylor, AB, Wang, F, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, W. "Temporomandibular joint pain: a critical role for Trpv4 in the trigeminal ganglion." Pain 154, no. 8 (August 2013): 1295-1304. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - McNulty, AL, Rothfusz, NE, Leddy, HA, and Guilak, F. "Synovial fluid concentrations and relative potency of interleukin-1 alpha and beta in cartilage and meniscus degradation." Journal of Orthopaedic Research : Official Publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society 31, no. 7 (July 2013): 1039-1045. Full Text
  - Chen, Y, Williams, SH, McNulty, AL, Hong, JH, Lee, SH, Rothfusz, NE, Parekh, PK, Moore, C, IV, RWG, Taylor, AB, Wang, F, Guilak, F, and Liedtke, W. "Temporomandibular joint pain: A critical role for Trpv4 in the trigeminal ganglion." Pain 154, no. 8 (2013): 1295-1304. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Rothfusz, NE, Leddy, HA, and Guilak, F. "Synovial fluid concentrations and relative potency of interleukin-1 alpha and beta in cartilage and meniscus degradation." Journal of Orthopaedic Research 31, no. 7 (2013): 1039-1045. Full Text
  - Backus, JD, Furman, BD, Swimmer, T, Kent, CL, McNulty, AL, Defrate, LE, Guilak, F, and Olson, SA. "Cartilage viability and catabolism in the intact porcine knee following transarticular impact loading with and without articular fracture." J Orthop Res 29, no. 4 (April 2011): 501-510. Full Text Link to Item
  - McNulty, AL, Miller, MR, O'Connor, SK, and Guilak, F. "The effects of adipokines on cartilage and meniscus catabolism." Connective Tissue Research 52, no. 6 (January 2011): 523-533. Full Text
  - Riera, KM, Rothfusz, NE, Wilusz, RE, Weinberg, JB, Guilak, F, and McNulty, AL. "Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 and integrative meniscal repair: influences on meniscal cell proliferation and migration." Arthritis Research & Therapy 13, no. 6 (January 2011): R187-null. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Estes, BT, Wilusz, RE, Weinberg, JB, and Guilak, F. "Dynamic loading enhances integrative meniscal repair in the presence of interleukin-1." Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 18, no. 6 (June 2010): 830-838. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Weinberg, JB, and Guilak, F. "Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases enhances in vitro repair of the meniscus." Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 467, no. 6 (June 2009): 1557-1567. Full Text
  - Wilusz, RE, Weinberg, JB, Guilak, F, and McNulty, AL. "Inhibition of integrative repair of the meniscus following acute exposure to interleukin-1 in vitro." Journal of Orthopaedic Research : Official Publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society 26, no. 4 (April 2008): 504-512. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, and Guilak, F. "Integrative repair of the meniscus: lessons from in vitro studies." Biorheology 45, no. 3-4 (January 2008): 487-500.
  - McNulty, AL, Moutos, FT, Weinberg, JB, and Guilak, F. "Enhanced integrative repair of the porcine meniscus in vitro by inhibition of interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor alpha." Arthritis and Rheumatism 56, no. 9 (September 2007): 3033-3042. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Moutos, FT, Wilusz, RE, Weinberg, JB, and Guilak, F. "The effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on functional repair of the meniscus." MCB Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics 3, no. 4 (2006): 197-198.
  - McNulty, AL, Stabler, TV, Vail, TP, McDaniel, GE, and Kraus, VB. "Dehydroascorbate transport in human chondrocytes is regulated by hypoxia and is a physiologically relevant source of ascorbic acid in the joint." Arthritis and rheumatism 52, no. 9 (September 2005): 2676-2685. Full Text
  - McNulty, AL, Vail, TP, and Kraus, VB. "Chondrocyte transport and concentration of ascorbic acid is mediated by SVCT2." Biochimica et biophysica acta 1712, no. 2 (June 2005): 212-221. Full Text
  - Clark, AG, Rohrbaugh, AL, Otterness, I, and Kraus, VB. "The effects of ascorbic acid on cartilage metabolism in guinea pig articular cartilage explants." Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 21, no. 2 (March 2002): 175-184. Full Text
  - Michael, NL, Louie, LG, Rohrbaugh, AL, Schultz, KA, Dayhoff, DE, Wang, CE, and Sheppard, HW. "The role of CCR5 and CCR2 polymorphisms in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression." Nature medicine 3, no. 10 (October 1997): 1160-1162. Full Text
- Conference Papers
  - Cao, C, Ren, Y, Mirando, AJ, Barnett, A, Rouse, D, Mun, SH, Park-Min, K-H, McNulty, AL, Guilak, F, Karner, CM, Hilton, MJ, and Pitt, GS. "Increased Ca2+signaling through altered CaV1.2 L-type Ca2+channel activity promotes bone formation and prevents estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss." December 2017. Link to Item
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- PATHOL 293: Research Independent Study 2019
- PATHOL 793: Research Independent Study 2019

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Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers

Recent Courses