Bone Abstracts

Distal-less homeobox 5 (Dlx5) is a transcription factor that enhances osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells via upregulating the expression of Runx2 and other osteoblast phenotypic genes. We have previously demonstrated that Dlx5 also downregulates adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and that insulin decreases expression levels of Dlx5 via increasing expression levels of miR-124, a microRNA targeting 3′UTR of Dlx5. However, the mechanism o...

High Bone Mass (HBM) osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is caused by dominant mutations in the C-propeptide cleavage site of COL1A1 or COL1A2, characterized by bone hypermineralization. To elucidate the role of C-propeptide processing in bone mineralization and development, we generated heterozygous HBM mice with both residues (Ala-Asp) of the COL1A1 cleavage site substituted (Thr-Asn) to prevent processing by BMP1. Two, 6- and 12-month WT and HBM bones were examin...

Kit ligand/c-Kit receptor tyrosine kinase complex has been implicated as a target for bone remodeling process. Loss of function mutation in c-Kit causes low bone mass in KitW/W-v (W/Wv) mice. However, these mice are sterile and it is unclear whether the observed skeletal phenotype is secondary to sex hormone deficiency. To address this question, the skeletal phenotype of KitW...

Inflammatory processes play a role in osteoclastogenesis. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant that reflects different degree of inflammation. More recently, accumulating evidence suggest that CRP is not only an inflammatory marker but also direct cause of diseases. Therefore, we examined the direct effects of CRP on osteoclast formation using RAW 264.7 cells. CRP significantly inhibited RANKL-induced TRAP-positive multinucleated cell formation in RAW 264.7 cell c...

Biographical DetailsAmaka C Offiah is Senior Lecturer and Consultant Paediatric Radiologist at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Children’s Hospital. She has a specialist interest in the musculoskeletal system. She has co-authored two books, seven book chapters, published 67 peer-reviewed articles and given over 100 invited national and international lectures. She is Convenor...

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the rare inherited metabolic disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene. TNSALP deficiency leads to extracellular excess of inorganic pyrophosphate, a bone mineralization inhibitor. Here, we report the validity and reproducibility of a novel scale to quantify HPP-specific radiographic changes in pediatric patients.The Radiographic Global Impression of Change (RGI-C) ...

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in pediatric (ped) and adult ESRD patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of mortality in ESRD. Besides traditional risk factors, such as high BP & fluid overload, high plasma FGF23 is associated with LVH in adult ESRD patients. Little is known about Kl, the renally produced cofactor of FGF23 for phosphorus (P) homeostasis. We studied ped HD patients for risk factors for LVH, ...

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by bone fragility. The current classification comprises five forms (OI types I–V) with autosomal dominant inheritance and seven rarer forms (OI types VI–XII) with recessive inheritance. OI type V (MIM 610967) has distinguishing radiological features, such as propensity to hyperplastic callus formation, calcification of the forearm interosseous membrane, radial-head dislocatio...

Prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) regulates hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) transcription factors and thus, erythropoietin (EPO) production. Under normoxic conditions, HIFα is constantly inactivated through hydroxylation by PHD2. Due to the embryonic lethality of PHD2 knock-out mice, its precise role in erythropoiesis and tissue homeostasis has long remained unknown. Recently, we generated a conditional knock-out (cKO) mouse lacking PHD2 in EPO-producing cells. Thes...

Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein that controls the engulfment of apoptotic cells and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, but its role in the bone microenvironment is still unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that MFG-E8 also regulates bone metabolism and the development of arthritis.MFG-E8 expression was detected in mouse bones and primary murine osteobl...