Bone Abstracts

Recent studies have demonstrated that activin signalling plays a crucial role in the skeleton. Activins control both osteoblast and osteoclast function and are present in the bone extracellular matrix. This makes activin signalling an important new therapeutic target for a dual anabolic antiresorptive intervention in osteoporosis.Activins belong to the large TGF-β superfamily that also includes BMPs, TGFβs and GDFs. Like other TGF-β member...

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass leading to increased bone fragility and fracture susceptibility. Little is currently known about what specific factors stimulate osteoblast differentiation from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Therefore, the aim for this project is to determine novel factors and mechanisms involved in human bone production which can be targeted to treat osteoporosis, using gene expression profiling and bioinformati...

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass leading to increased bone fragility and fracture susceptibility. Little is currently known about what specific factors stimulate osteoblast differentiation from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Therefore, the aim for this project is to determine novel factors and mechanisms involved in human bone production which can be targeted to treat osteoporosis, using gene expression profiling and bioinformati...

Activins belong to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, and they regulate bone formation by controlling both osteoclast and osteoblast behaviour. We have previously shown that activin-A strongly inhibited matrix mineralization in osteoblast cultures, and that activin A-signalling was most effective before the onset of mineralization.The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how an early activin-A pulse affected osteoblast mineraliz...

Biographical DetailsDr Leanne M Ward is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa where she holds a Research Chair in Pediatric Bone Health. She is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Bone Health Clinical and Research Programs at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and a pediatric endocrinologist within the Division of Endocrinology and Metaboli...

Biographical DetailsBarbara M Misof is Staff Scientist at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology, Vienna, Austria. She completed her PhD in Physics and Postgraduate Education in Medical Physics at the University of Vienna in 2000. In 2002, she received the Herbert-Czitober-Research Award of the Austrian Society of Bone and Mineral Research. Her areas of interest are bone material pro...

Background: We have previously shown that MLO-Y4 osteocytes express a number of P2 receptors, respond to a broad range of nucleotides (e.g. UTP) by increasing intracellular calcium concentration and release ATP upon both mechanical and UTP stimulation. The aim of this study therefore is to investigate how the osteocytes release ATP and whether there is a difference in release pathway depending on the type of stimulus.Methods: ATP release was investigated...

Experimental studies suggested that both, oxidative stress and the Wnt pathway, are important factors in the regulation of bone remodeling. Thus, low antioxidant levels and elevated markers of Wnt pathway inhibitors (sclerostin) levels are associated with a reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of osteoporotic fracture. Whether oxidative stress and the Wnt pathway are related to fracture risk is poorly understood.M&M: Cross-sectional study ...

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Natural products have been regarded as important sources of potential chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of oleuropein, an olive oil compound traditionally found in the Mediterranean diet.Design and Methods: The antiproliferative activity on two human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63 and Saos2) was evaluated in vitro using the MTT c...

Background: The baby growing in its mother’s womb needs calcium for skeletal development. Maternal osteoporosis has been attributed to pregnancy in some cases.Presenting problem: A 27-year-old woman in the 7th month of her first pregnancy complained of mid-thoracic back pain after lifting a non-heavy object. The pain remained with differing intensity and was attributed to her pregnancy. After the delivery of a healthy child, the back pain prevented ...