Bone Abstracts

Objectives: Lysosomal diseases (LDs) are a heterogenous group of 40+ genetic disorders that can affect virtually all organs and systems, including the skeletal system. They are often caused by the loss of an enzyme critical for the breakdown of macromolecules in the lysosome, leading to accumulation of these substrates and subsequent lysosomal dysfunction. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is the primary treatment option for many LDs, but several issues hinder the efficacy of t...

Hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO) is an autosomal dominant rare genetic disorder due to LOF heterozygous mutations in EXT1 or EXT2 genes. HMO is an unmet medical condition where patients often requiring multiple surgeries. HMO is characterized by painful cartilaginous capped bony outgrowths at the growth plate (GP) regions of long bones, ribs and other skeletal elements. The molecular mechanism by which these mutations lead to disease is unknown. Mutations in EXT1 and ...

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare debilitating genetic disease characterized by abnormal progressive heterotopic endochondrial ossification of soft tissues. FOP results from mutations in the intracellular domain of the type I BMP receptor ACVR1 (ALK2) the most common of which is R206H. FOP mutations alter the sensitivity of ACVR1 to Activin A from an antagonist to an agonist. We have previously shown that Activin A is necessary and sufficient for driving he...

FOP is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by early onset, episodic and progressive ossification of skeletal muscle and associated connective tissue. FOP is driven by mutations in the intracellular domain of ACVR1 (ALK2), the most common of which is R206H. However, rare FOP causing mutations exist throughout the GS and the kinase domain of Acvr1. Several of these mutations result what appears to be a more severe FOP phenotype that includes significant developmental ab...