Probing the skeletal stem cell niche through functional investigation of Prx1 expressing cells.
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Randall Div of Cell and Molecular Biophy
Abstract
Using current knowledge, this project aims to address the possibility of a tissue resident Prx1 expressing Skeletal Stem Cell using an integrated developmental biology and stem cell approach. Elucidation of the location and constituents of the skeletal stem cell niche his may open the door for novel pharmaceutical development that can target the stem cells in vivo for tissue formation, allow duplication of the niche ex vivo for stem cell investigation, or generate therapies for dysfunctional niches that occur due to disease or aging.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Malcolm Logan (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Sarah Pretorius (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/P504695/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/03/2021 | |||
| 1819509 | Studentship | BB/P504695/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/03/2021 | Sarah Pretorius |
| Description | Description of the novel Prrx1eGFP transgenic mouse and how it can be utilised for the study of the periosteum both in the adult but also can be used to look at the origins of the periosteum in embryonic development. Isolation of periosteal cells from this mouse line and how to maintain the culture conditions to produce bone and cartilage in vitro. This work is still ongoing and we hope to determine if the transgene is marking a periosteal progenitor or stem cell population. |
| Exploitation Route | Further study still needs to be done to determine if the Prrx1eGFP transgene labels stem cells in the periosteum. If it does enrich for progenitors or stem cells this would be useful for stem cell therapies in the treatment of osteoporosis and bone fracture. |
| Sectors | Healthcare |