title: A novel in vivo gene transfer technique and in vitro cell based assays for the study of bone loss in musculoskeletal disorders.
abstract: Differentiation and activation of osteoclasts play a key role in the development of musculoskeletal diseases as these cells are primarily involved in bone resorption. Osteoclasts can be generated in vitro from monocyte/macrophage precursor cells in the presence of certain cytokines, which promote survival and differentiation. Here, both in vivo and in vitro techniques are demonstrated, which allow scientists to study different cytokine contributions towards osteoclast differentiation, signaling, and activation. The minicircle DNA delivery gene transfer system provides an alternative method to establish an osteoporosis-related model is particularly useful to study the efficacy of various pharmacological inhibitors in vivo. Similarly, in vitro culturing protocols for producing osteoclasts from human precursor cells in the presence of specific cytokines enables scientists to study osteoclastogenesis in human cells for translational applications. Combined, these techniques have the potential to accelerate drug discovery efforts for osteoclast-specific targeted therapeutics, which may benefit millions of osteoporosis and arthritis patients worldwide.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis.
authors: Dennis J
authors: DJ
authors: Wu
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis.
authors: Neha
authors: N
authors: Dixit
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Suzuki
authors: Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California.
authors: Thanh
authors: T
authors: Nguyen
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis.
authors: Hyun Seock
authors: HS
authors: Shin
authors: Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California.
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Davis
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis.
authors: Emanual
authors: E
authors: Maverakis
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California; iannis@ucdavis.edu.
authors: Iannis E
authors: IE
authors: Adamopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology