The Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Maintenance of Osteogenic Precursor Cells and Skeletal Tissue Regeneration

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/242804

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Within human bone marrow there exists a rare population of bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) able to develop into the different cell types that form haematopoietic supportive stroma and surrounding skeletal tissue. There has been alot of interest of late in the potential of BMSSCs as a cellular based therapy to treat and manage bone fractures or bone loss caused by disease. Increasing evidence suggests that decreased bone mass due to osteoporosis dos not purely result in an increase of bone resorption by osteoclasts, but may also occur through a decline in the number of bone forming cells called osteoblasts or their progenitors. Fracture non-union, prosthetic loosening and the replacement of large defects in bone are common and difficult problems. The use of autologous bone cells generated from isolated BMSSCs in combination with bio-compatible implant materials would provide a novel solution for the treatment of these problems, avoiding the use of autografts and allografts of bone with all their associated difficulties. However, large numbers of ex vivo expanded BMSSCs are currently required to heal even small bone defects in animal models. This is compounded by the decline in proliferation rates and bone forming capacity of BMSSCs during prolonged expansion in culture. An improved understanding of the genes that regulate the proliferation and differentiation of BMSSCs in vitro is therefore an essential prerequisite for the effective management of bone fracture and bone loss. We propose to genetically manipulate the expression of genes in BMSSCs, that are known to regulate cellular growth and development inorder to maintain the growth of stem cell populations in vitro and to extend their capacity to form bone when transplanted in vivo.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2003

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $234,750.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cell Development (Incl. Cell Division And Apoptosis)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Bone | Bone Development | Bone Formation | Bone Marrow | Bone Marrow Stroma | Cell Biology | Osteoblast | Stem Cell Therapy | Stem Cells

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