My early work defined lumican, a keratan sulfate proteoglycan of connective tissue ECMs of the cornea, tendon, skin, cartilage. These studies predate completion of the Human Genome Project, necessitating the purification of the lumican protein, establishing its N-terminal amino acid sequence, isolating genomic and cDNA clones and Sanger sequencing of the lumican gene. Subsequently, we generated gene-targeted lumican-deficient mice that developed cloudy cornea, and skin and tendon fragility due to abnormal collagen fibril structure (Chakravarti, 1998).
https://www.shukti-chakravarti-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/eyeball3.svg475475awp-adminhttps://www.shukti-chakravarti-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/shuktilab-logo-taller.pngawp-admin2026-05-29 17:57:352026-05-29 18:42:21Early work on structural role of ECM proteoglycans
Beyond tissue structure, we discovered that collagen-free lumican has a second role in modulating inflammation and immune response (Wu, 2007; Shao2013). Other related members of this proteoglycan family also have dual roles in tissue structure and cell signaling. Lumican interacts with cell surface proteins (integrins, caveolin-1 and CD14) on neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells to promote toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mediated innate inflammatory signals and defense against bacterial infections.
https://www.shukti-chakravarti-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Slide7-e1780079305603.png680703awp-adminhttps://www.shukti-chakravarti-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/shuktilab-logo-taller.pngawp-admin2026-05-28 17:58:392026-05-29 18:40:55 Emerging role of ECM components in immune response and inflammation
We are exploring the use of human corneal organoids as a pre-animal model system to investigate human corneal development and disease. Matured for up to 4 months in culture, these human corneal organoids establish a layered ECM-rich cornea-like tissue (Foster, 2017). Single cell transcriptomic studies show all major corneal cell types (Maiti, 2022) and a cornea-like stromal extracellular matrix of collagens and proteoglycans (Ashworth, 2025).
We investigate keratoconus, a corneal disease associated with ECM degeneration, scarring and vision loss. Affecting ~1 in 1000 people, it is the second-most-common cause for corneal transplants worldwide.
Early work on structural role of ECM proteoglycans
My early work defined lumican, a keratan sulfate proteoglycan of connective tissue ECMs of the cornea, tendon, skin, cartilage. These studies predate completion of the Human Genome Project, necessitating the purification of the lumican protein, establishing its N-terminal amino acid sequence, isolating genomic and cDNA clones and Sanger sequencing of the lumican gene. Subsequently, we generated gene-targeted lumican-deficient mice that developed cloudy cornea, and skin and tendon fragility due to abnormal collagen fibril structure (Chakravarti, 1998).
Emerging role of ECM components in immune response and inflammation
Beyond tissue structure, we discovered that collagen-free lumican has a second role in modulating inflammation and immune response (Wu, 2007; Shao2013). Other related members of this proteoglycan family also have dual roles in tissue structure and cell signaling. Lumican interacts with cell surface proteins (integrins, caveolin-1 and CD14) on neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells to promote toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mediated innate inflammatory signals and defense against bacterial infections.
Human corneal organoids
We are exploring the use of human corneal organoids as a pre-animal model system to investigate human corneal development and disease. Matured for up to 4 months in culture, these human corneal organoids establish a layered ECM-rich cornea-like tissue (Foster, 2017). Single cell transcriptomic studies show all major corneal cell types (Maiti, 2022) and a cornea-like stromal extracellular matrix of collagens and proteoglycans (Ashworth, 2025).
Understanding keratoconus, a cell and ECM degenerative corneal disease
We investigate keratoconus, a corneal disease associated with ECM degeneration, scarring and vision loss. Affecting ~1 in 1000 people, it is the second-most-common cause for corneal transplants worldwide.