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Thomas Jefferson University - Christopher S. Adams, Ph.D.
Christopher S. Adams, Ph.D.

Orthopaedic Surgery
Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson Medical College
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Assistant Professor
Appointed: 2001
Mailing Address
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
United States
Contact Information
Phone: (215) 955-8754
Fax: (215) 955-9159
Christopher.Adams@jefferson.edu
Qualifications
Education
B.S. (1987) Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH - Biology
M.A. (1991) Kent State University, Kent, OH - Anthropology
Ph.D. (1996) Kent State University, Kent, OH - Biomedical Science

Professional Experience:
(1990-1992) Lab Instructor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH
(1992-1995) Lab Instructor, Department of Anatomy, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH
(1995-1996) Lecturer/Lab Instructor, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
(1996-1998) Post-doctoral Researcher, Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Gerontology Research Center, NIA/NIH, Baltimore, MD
(1998-2001) Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
(2001-2001) Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
(2001-Present) Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Expertise and Research Interests
The goal of my current research is to understand the physiology of skeletal tissues. These research activities encompass three well-defined topics. The first is the regulation of chondrocyte and osteoblast apoptosis. I have a long-standing interest in articular cartilage apoptosis, dating back to my work at the National Institute on Aging with Dr. Walter Horton. I demonstrated that apoptotic rates increased with age in rats and mice. I have continued to study apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes since leaving NIH. In addition, I have explored the apoptotic process in bone cells as well. In bone, where most apoptotic cells are found at locations where there is active remodeling, I have developed the hypothesis that specific molecules released by cells that resorb bone (osteoclasts) induce apoptosis of vicinial osteoblasts. In cartilage, where apoptotic cells are found at the bottom of the growth plate, I have developed a similar hypothesis, where cartilage resorbing cells release factors from the extracellular matrix that induce chondrocyte apoptosis. Included in these factors are Ca and Pi ions and RGD-containing peptides. I have demonstrated that Ca2+- and Pi-mediated apoptosis is mediated through the mitochondria. I have also demonstrated that short peptides containing the sequence RGDS induce caspase dependent apoptosis.

The second focus of my research is the contribution of survival factors on the induction of apoptosis in skeletal cells. We have demonstrated that survival pathways can be upregulated in osteoblasts in two ways. The first is through the modification of the surface upon which the cell sit. By grafting RGD containing peptides to the stratum upon which osteoblasts are placed, we have demonstreated that apoptosis can be completely abrogated. Furthermore, we have demonstrated activation of these survival pathways by mechanical strain. While it is clear that one of the primary regulatory environmental factors in bones is the mechanical environment, little progress has been made in the past toward understanding the direct effect of force on bone and cartilage cell function. I am testing the hypothesis that the force environment regulates the sensitivity of skeletal cells, including osteoblasts, to the activation of apoptosis. Our work has shown that relatively low levels of strain applied to osteoblasts upregulates components of survival pathways. These pathways include integrins and focal adhesion kinase, as well as components of the PI-3K pathway: Akt and Bad proteins.

The final focus of my research is Tissue Engineering. My primary focus in this area concerns the major causes of orthopaedic implant failure, periprosthetic infection, and the subsequent failure to osseointegrate. In collaboration with bioengineers at the University of Pennsylvania, we have developed a novel method of grafting bioactive molecules to titanium. If successful, the new chimeric surface will be of enormous clinical importance and its use will extend far beyond the field of orthopaedics. The current proposal was developed from observations that we have made concerning the hypoxic response of chondrocytes. Our work indicates that hypoxia can sensitize chondrocytes to apoptosis. In articular cartilage, this could enhance the progression of osteoarthritis. If this is the case, we will be poised to be able to use a new class of pharmacological agents, targeted to the oxygen dependent domain on HIF to ameliorate or limit the development of osteoarthritis.
Industrial Relevance
Our current focus on modification of orthopaedic surfaces for the prevention of biofilm is vital to the problem of periprosthetic infection, a continuing problem in the implant field. Furthermore, there is considerable potential for this technology to be translated to any indwelling implant or biomaterial.
Keywords
Apoptosis; Body Weight; Bone; Cell Death; Chondrocytes; Cartilage; Orthopedics; Osteoblasts; periprosthetic infection; Titanium; Antibiotics;
Publications
  • 50. Adams, C.S., Antoci, V. Jr., Harrison, G., Patal, P., Freeman, T.A., Shapiro, I.M., Parvizi, J., Hickock, N.J., Radin, S., Ducheyne, P.: Controlled Release of Vancomycin from Thin Sol-Gel Films on Implant Surfaces Successfully Inhibits Osteomyelitis. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, In press, 2008.

  • 49. Ketonis, C., Parvizi, J., Adams, C.S., Shapiro, I.M., Hickok, N.J.: Modification of Ti alloy surfaces: Retention of topography with attachment of antibiotics. Current Orthopaedics and Related Research. In press, 2008.

  • 48. Bohensky, J., Terkhorn, S.P., Freeman, T., Adams, C.S., Garcia, J., Shapiro, I.M., Srinivas, V.: Regulation of Autophagy in Cartilage: HIF-2 Suppresses Chondrocyte Autophagy. Arthritis and Rheumatism, In press, 2008.

  • 47. Toworfe, G.K., Bhattacharyya, S., Composto, R.J., Adams, C.S., Shapiro, I.M., Ducheyne, P.: Effect of functional end groups of silane self assembled monolayer surfaces on apatite formation, fibronectin adsorption and osteoblast cell function. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, In press, 2008.

  • 45. Antoci, V., Adams, C.S., Parvizi, J., Davidson, H.M., Composto, R.J., Freeman, T.A., Wickstrom, E., Zeiger, A.R., Ducheyne, P., Jungkind, D., Shapiro, I.M., Hickok, N.J.: Vancomycin-modified Ti alloy inhibits S. epidermidis biofilm formation: Implications for treatment of periprosthetic infection. Biomaterials, 29:4684-4690, 2008.

  • 44. Zahm, A., Shapiro, I.M., Srinivas, V., and Adams, C.S.: Oxygen tension regulates osteoblasts maturation and mineralization. Bone, 43(1):25-31, 2008.

  • 43. Shapiro, IM, Adams, CS, Srinivas, V, and Freeman, TA.: Chondrocyte Hypertrophy and Apoptosis at the Cartilage-Bone Interface. In: Bone and Osteoarthritis (Topics in Bone Biology Vol 4)(F. Bronner and M.C. Farach-Carson, eds.) Springer-Verlag: London pp. 109-129, 2007.

  • 42. Radin, SA, Antoci, V, Hickok, N, Adams, CS, Parvizi, J, Shapiro, IM, Ducheyne P: In vitro and in vivo bactericidal effect of sol-gel/antibiotic thin films on fixation devices. Key Engineering Materials 330/332: 1323-1326, 2007

  • 41. Secchi, A, Grigoriou, V, Cavalcanti-Adam, EA, Composto, RJ, Shapiro, IM, and Adams, CS: RGDS Peptides Immobilized On Titanium stimulate bone cell attachment, differentiation and resistance to apoptosis. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 83A:577-584, 2007.

  • 40. Bucaro, MA, Zahm, AM, Risbud, MV, Ayyaswamy, PS, Mukundakrishnan, K, Steinbeck, MJ, Shapiro, IM, and Adams, CS: Vector-averaged gravity does not induce cell death in osteoblast-like cells in a rotating wall vessel using novel alginate carriers. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 102(2):483-495, 2007.

  • 39. Antoci, V Jr., Adams, CS, Hickok, NJ, Shapiro, IM, Parvizi, J: Antibiotics for Local Delivery Systems Cause Skeletal Cell Toxicity In Vitro, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 462:200-206, 2007.

  • 38. Antoci, V Jr., Adams, CS, Hickok, NJ, Shapiro, IM, Parvizi, J: Vancomycin Bound to Ti Rods Reduces Periprosthetic Infection: A Preliminary Study. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 461:88-95, 2007.

  • 37. Antoci, V Jr., Adams, CS, Parvizi, J, Shapiro, IM, Hickok, NJ: Covalently Attached Vancomycin Provides a Nanoscale Antibacterial Surface, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 461:81-87, 2007

  • 36. Antoci, V, King, S, Jose, B, Wickstrom, E, Shapiro, IM, Hickok, NH, and Adams, CS: Vancomycin covalently bonded to Titanium alloy prevents bacterial colonization. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 25:858-866, 2007.

  • 35. Han, F, Adams, CS, Freeman, T, Tao, Z, Zaka, R, Williams, C, Tuan, RS, Norton, P, and Hickok, NJ: Transforming growth factor b1 regulates fibronectin isoform expression and splicing factor SRp40 expression during ATDC5 chondrogenic maturation. Experimental Cell Research, 313(8): 1518-1532, 2007.

  • 34. Edupuganti, OP, Antoci, V Jr, King, SB, Jose, B, Adams, CS, Parvizi, J, Shapiro, IM, Zeiger, AR, Hickok, NJ, Wickstrom, E: Vancomycin covalently bound to Ti6Al4V alloy pins prevents biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 17:2692-2696, 2007.

  • 33. Bohensky, J., Shapiro, I.M., Leshinsky, S., Terkhorn, S., Adams, CS, Srinivas, V.: Hif-1 regulation of chondrocyte apoptosis: Induction of the autophagic pathway. Autophagy, 3 (3):207-214, 2007.

  • 32. Lee, MH, Adams, CS, Boettinger, D, DeGrado, WF, Shapiro, IM, Composto, RJ, Ducheyne, P: Adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells to RGD peptides of different flanking residues: Detachment strength and correlation with long-term cellular function, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 81A:150-160, 2007.

  • 31. Lee, DC, Evans, SM, Koch, CJ, Albert, TJ, Shapiro, IM, and Adams, CS: Determination of the intracellular oxygen tension in the rat intervertebral disc. Journal of Anatomy, 210:294-303, 2007.

  • 30. Saunders, RK, Szymczyk, KH, Shapiro, IM, Adams, CS: Matrix Regulation of Skeletal Cell apoptosis III: Mechanism of Ca and Pi induced apoptosis. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, in press, 2007.

  • 29. Pucci, B, Adams, CS, Fertala, J, Snyder, BC, Mansfield, KD, Tafani, M, Freeman, T, and Shapiro, IM: Development of the Terminally Differentiated State Sensitizes Epiphyseal Chondrocytes to Apoptosis. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 210(3): 609-615, 2007.

  • 28. Szymczyk, KH, Freeman, TA, Adams, C.S., Srinivas, V, and Steinbeck, MJ: Active Caspase-3 is required for osteoclast differentiation. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 209(3):836-44, 2006.

  • 27. Szymczyk, KH, Kerr, BAE, Freeman, TA, Adams, C.S., and Steinbeck, MJ: Involvement of hydrogen peroxide in the differentiation and apoptosis of preosteoclastic cells exposed to arsenite. Biochemical Pharmacology, 72(6):761-769 2006.

  • 26. Toworfe, GK, Composto, RJ, Adams, C.S., Shapiro, IM, and Ducheyne, P: Initial attachment of osteoblast-like cells on functionalized surfaces coated with calcium phosphate. Bioceramics 18, Pts 1 and 2 Key Engineering Materials, 309-311: 275-278, Part 1-2 2006.

  • 25. Han, F, Adams, C.S., Tao, Z., Williams, C.J., Zaka, R., Tuan, R.S., Norton, P.A., Hickok, N.J.: Transforming Growth Factor-b1 (TGF-b1) Regulates ATDC5 Chondrogenic Differentiation, and Fibronectin Isoform Expression, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 95(4): 750-762, 2005.

  • 24. Grigoriou, V., Shapiro, I.M., Cavalcanti-Adam, E.A., Composto, R.J., Ducheyne, P., Adams, C.S.: Osteoblast apoptosis and survival is regulated by integrin-mediated surface attachment. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280 (3):1733-1739, 2005.

  • 23. Parvizi, J., Wickstrom, E., Adams, C.S., Purtill, J.J., Sharkey, P.F., Hozack, W.J., Shapiro, I.M., Rothman, R.H., and Hickok, N.J.: Titanium Surface with Biologic Activity Against Infection. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 429:33-38, 2004.

  • 22. Toworfe, G.K., Composto, R.J., Adams, C.S., Shapiro, I.M., Ducheyne, P.: Fibronectin adsorption on surface-activated poly(dimethylsiloxane) and its effect on cellular function. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 71A (3): 449-461, 2004.

  • 21. Bucaro, M., Fertala, J., Adams, C.S., Steinbeck, M.J., Ayyaswamy, P., Mukundakrishnan, Shapiro, I.M., and Risbud, M.V.: Bone cell survival in microgravity: Evidence that modeled microgravity increases osteoblast sensitivity to apoptogens. Proceedings of the Microgravity Transport Processes in Fluid, Thermal, Biological and Materials Sciences III, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1027:1-10, 2004.

  • 20. El-Ghanam, A., Ducheyne, P., Adams, C.S., Composto, R., and Shapiro, I.M.: Model surfaces engineered with nanoscale roughness and RGD tripeptides promote osteoblast adhesion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 68A (4):615-627, 2004.

  • 19. Szymczyk, K.H., Shapiro, I.M., and Adams, C.S.: Ionizing radiation sensitizes bone cells to pro-apoptotic agents. Bone, 34:148-156, 2004.

  • 18. Risbud, M.V., Izzo, M.W., Adams, C.S., Hillibrand, A.S., Vreslovic, E.J., Vaccaro, A.R., Albert, T.J., and Shapiro, I.M.: An Organ Culture System for the Study of the Nucleus Pulposus: Description of the System and Evaluation of the Cells. Spine, 28:2652-2658, 2003.

  • 17. Mansfield, K., Pucci, B., Adams, C.S. and Shapiro, I.M.: Induction of apoptosis in skeletal tissues: phosphate mediated chick chondrocyte is calcium dependent. Calcified Tissue International, 73 (2): 161-172 AUG 2003.

  • 16. Adams, C.S., and Blank, J.: Response to ''Does weight gain lead to weight loss?'' Journal of Experimental Biology, 206:2536-2537, 2003.

  • 15. Adams, C.S., Shapiro, I.M.: Mechanism by Which Extracellular Matrix Components Induce Osteoblast Apoptosis. Connective Tissue Research. 44(Suppl. 1): 230-239, 2003

  • 14. Cavalcanti-Adam E.A., Shapiro I.M., Composto R.J., Macarak E.J., Adams C.S.: RGD peptides immobilized on a mechanically deformable surface promote. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 17(12): 2130-40, Dec 2002

  • 13. Billings P.C., Whitbeck J.C., Adams C.S., Abrams W.R., Cohen A.J., Engelsberg B.N., Howard P.S., Rosenbloom J.: The transforming growth factor-beta-inducible matrix protein (beta)ig-h3 interacts with fibronectin. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 277(31): 28003-9, Aug 2002

  • 12. Lucchinetti E., Adams C.S., Horton W.E. Jr, Torzilli P.A.: Cartilage viability after repetitive loading: a preliminary report. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 10(1): 71-81, Jan 2002

  • 11. Perlot R.L. Jr, Shapiro I.M., Mansfield K., Adams C.S.: Matrix regulation of skeletal cell apoptosis II: role of RGD-containing peptides. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 17(1): 66-76, Jan 2002

  • 10. Adams, C.S., Mansfield, K.D., Rajpurohit, R., Tachibana, H., Teixeira, C.M., Shapiro, I.M.: Components of Extracellular Matrix Regulate Chondrocyte Apoptosis. Growth Plate 2001: Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Growth Plate (I.M. Shapiro, B.D. Boyan, H.C. Anderson eds). 63-76, 2002

  • 9. Adams C.S., Shapiro I.M.: The fate of the terminally differentiated chondrocyte: evidence for microenvironmental regulation of chondrocyte apoptosis. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine. 13(6): 465-73, 2002

  • 8. Adams C.S., Mansfield K., Perlot R.L., Shapiro I.M.: Matrix regulation of skeletal cell apoptosis. Role of calcium and phosphate ions. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276(23): 20316-22, 2001

  • 7. Adams C.S., Korytko A.I., Blank J.L.: A novel mechanism of body mass regulation. Journal of Experimental Biology. 204(Pt 10): 1729-34, May 2001

  • 6. Mansfield K., Teixeira C.C., Adams C.S., Shapiro I.M.: Phosphate ions mediate chondrocyte apoptosis through a plasma membrane transporter mechanism. Bone. 28(1): 1-8, Jan 2001

  • 5. Adams, C.S., Horton, W.E. Apoptosis and Bone Disease. Programmed Cell Death Volume II: Role in Disease, Pathogenesis and Prevention (M. Matson, S.Estus V. Rannekar eds). 277-313, 2001

  • 4. Meleti Z., Shapiro I.M., Adams C.S.: Inorganic phosphate induces apoptosis of osteoblast-like cells in culture. Bone. 27(3): 359-66, Sep 2000

  • 3. Potter K., Butler J.J., Adams C., Fishbein K.W., McFarland E.W., Horton W.E., Spencer R.G.: Cartilage formation in a hollow fiber bioreactor studied by proton magnetic resonance microscopy. Matrix Biology. 17(7): 513-23, Nov 1998

  • 2. Horton W.E., Feng L., Adams C.: Chondrocyte apoptosis in development, aging and disease. Matrix Biology. 17(2): 107-15, Jun 1998

  • 1. Adams C.S., Horton W.E.: Chondrocyte apoptosis increases with age in the articular cartilage of adult animals. Anatomical Record. 250(4): 418-25, Apr 1998
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Individual Expertise profile of Christopher S. Adams, Ph.D., Copyright © Christopher S. Adams, Ph.D..
Last Updated by Christopher Adams, Ph.D. : Wednesday, November 5, 2008 11:56:39 AM


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