Rema Hamami
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Kurt Hankenson
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Orthopaedic Surgery / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 2 – 11am – 11:50am
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Rema Hamami, Kyle Maas, Kurt Hankenson
Presenter: 68
Abstract
Non-healing bone injuries are a major health issue. Insufficient bone healing occurs with high incidence and remains a significant public health concern. There are limited options in clinical practice to treat or prevent failed bone healing, necessitating development of new therapies. We are interested in the molecular regulation of bone regeneration and discovering ways to improve healing clinically. This study uses a bilateral tibial fracture to observe fracture healing both in the presence and absence of R-spondin proteins. By using a cell-specific, inducible Cre recombinase, we are able to prevent expression of the protein, R-spondin, in the bone building cells (osteoblasts and chondrocytes) at the time of surgery. This is important because constitutive deletion of R-spondin from birth or in all cell types can have deleterious effects on various organs, and result in embryonic lethality. We will be able to examine Rspo’s role in different cell types specific to bone building and examine its potential role as a therapeutic to enhance fracture healing. Using the software Dragonfly, image analysis of microCT scans will generate bone and total volumes for the healing callus on fractured tibiae. To complement imaging analysis, RNA, extracted from calluses, will be analyzed for mRNA expression of osteogenic markers. Finally, histological analysis will define cell and tissue types microscopically. We hypothesize that an absence of Rspo2/3 production by aSMA+ progenitors during bone regeneration will result in decreases in bone healing. With an interest in both the basic biology of skeletal regeneration and in developing novel ways of promoting therapeutic bone growth, the goal is to provide better outcomes to individuals with congenital or traumatic bone disorders.
Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences
