Osteoblast differentiation-stage specific mechanisms of glucocorticoid action during fracture healing (C02)

• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251293561

This project found that glucocorticoids (GCs) via their receptor (GR) and GC counteracting factors influence bone integrity and fracture healing. Furthermore, GR deletion in skeletal stem/progenitor cells (Sox9+) increased bone mass and regeneration, whereas GR deletion in Osx labelled committed cells resulted in opposite effects. We also discovered that GR regulates cellular energy metabolism and, vice versa, energy metabolites influences GR activity. Therefore, we hypothesize that 1) GR influences skeletal stem/progenitor cells differentially at different differentiation stages and 2) cellular energy metabolism impacts GR transcriptional responses in immune and bone cells during fracture healing.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1149: Danger Response, Disturbance Factors and Regenerative Potential after Acute Trauma
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Anita Ignatius; Professor Dr. Jan Tuckermann