Bone Cell Biology and Disease - PhD and honours Projects - gp130 and oncostatin M signalling in bone
gp130 and oncostatin M signalling in bone
Project Type
PhD
Summary
Supervisors: A/Prof Natalie Sims, Prof T Jack Martin
Tel: 9288 2480/ Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Cytokines that bind the gp130 (glycoprotein 130) receptor subunit regulate the differentiation of all cell types involved in bone remodelling, a process critical to normal skeletal health which is disrupted in diseases such as osteoporosis. We have recently shown that Oncostatin M (OSM) regulates both bone formation and resorption, through two distinct pathways. This project will define the importance of gp130 in the bone-destroying osteoclasts and osteocytes - cells within the bone matrix. We will use mice with targeted deletion of gp130 in these two cell types and measure changes in bone density and bone cell numbers, and study the differentiation of targeted cells using in vitro culture systems. The response of these mice to treatment with hormones and cytokines such as OSM and parathyroid hormone will also be explored.
Approaches to be used will include the use of knockout mice, small animal surgery, histology and histomorphometry, micro-computed tomography, cell culture, molecular biology including PCR, Western blot and genotyping