title: Methods and insights from the characterization of osteoprogenitor cells of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera).
abstract: Osteoprogenitor cells contribute to the development and maintenance of skeletal tissues. Bats are unique model taxa whose cellular processes are poorly understood, especially in regards to skeletal biology. Forelimb bones of bats, unlike those of terrestrial mammals, bend during flight and function in controlled deformation. As a first step towards understanding the molecular processes governing deposition of this flexible bone matrix, we provide the first method for isolation and differentiation of cell populations derived from the bone marrow and cortical bone of bats, and compare results with those harvested from C57BL/6J mice. Osteogenic capacity of these cells was assessed via absolute quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and through quantification of in vitro mineral deposition. Results indicate the differentiated bone cells of bats display significantly lower gene expression of known osteogenic markers (Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX2), osteocalcin (BGLAP) and osterix (SP7)), and deposit a less-mineralized matrix compared with murine controls. By characterizing the in vitro performance of osteoprogenitor cells throughout differentiation and matrix production, this study lays the ground work for in vitro manipulations of bat stem and osteoprogenitor cells and extends our understanding of the cellular diversity across mammals that occupy different habitats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States. Electronic address: hcball08@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States; College of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, 800 E. Summit Street, Kent, OH 44240, United States. Electronic address: fmoussa@neomed.edu.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States; College of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, 800 E. Summit Street, Kent, OH 44240, United States. Electronic address: tmbimba@neomed.edu.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mbimba
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States. Electronic address: rena.orman@downstate.edu.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States. Electronic address: fayez.safadi@neomed.edu.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Safadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 State Route 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States. Electronic address: lcooper@neomed.edu.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D002685:Chiroptera; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015675:Osteocalcin