Amie Howell
Research Mentor(s): Andrea Alford
Mentor Department: Orthopaedic Surgery
Authors:
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 30
Abstract
Osteoblasts are critical for bone formation, growth, and repair, primarily through the secretion of bone matrix, which facilitates the deposition of proteins into new tissue. Among the proteins regulating this process, thrombospondin 1 and 2 (TSP1 and TSP2) play pivotal roles in modulating extracellular matrix (ECM) production and bone healing pathways. Our research aims to investigate the impact of TSP1 and TSP2 deficiency on ECM production by osteoblasts. Specifically, we are examining how these deficiencies affect the production of fibronectin, a key ECM protein. To address this, we utilized mouse models with either wild-type (WT) or double knockout (DKO) of TSP1 and TSP2. Bone marrow from the tibias and femurs of these mice was flushed, cultured, and monitored. Cell layers and culture media were collected on days 7 and 21 for subsequent analysis. We plan to use SDS-PAGE and Western blotting to visualize and quantify fibronectin production in both the culture medium and cell layer at these time points. To ensure the reliability of our findings, we incorporated nine biological replicates per group. Statistical analysis will be conducted using a two-way ANOVA to evaluate differences in fibronectin production between WT and DKO samples over time. This study has the potential to enhance our understanding of the role of thrombospondins in ECM production and osteoblast function. Our findings may contribute to clinical applications, particularly in improving treatment strategies for bone fractures, while also laying the groundwork for future research on the molecular mechanisms underlying thrombospondin-mediated ECM regulation in bone biology
