Objective Bone development and homeostasis must incontestably rely on a correct spatial positioning of osteoblasts to generate bone at appropriate sites. A failure of osteoblasts to reach the sites in need of bone formation may contribute to impaired fracture repair and osteoporosis. Conversely, uncontrolled osteogenic cell movement may play a role in diseases involving aberrant placement of bone. Mechanisms of osteoblastic migration and adhesion may even be mimicked by bone-metastasizing tumor cells. Yet, the trafficking of osteogenic cells has been a largely neglected aspect in bone biology. My recent studies abroad for the first time shed light on this process in vivo. Newly generated transgenic mouse models for osteoblast lineage tracing revealed that specifically osteoprogenitors, and not mature osteoblasts, moved to initiate novel sites of bone formation. Intriguingly, osteoprogenitors entered developing and healing bones along with their neovascularization, some being wrapped as pericytes around the blood vessels, suggesting an unprecedented vessel-guided cell movement mechanism.Implementing these concepts and models, I here propose two angles to elucidate the mechanisms mediating osteoprogenitor motility. In a first approach, we will assess the involvement, in vitro and in vivo, of known candidate molecular targets of (i) cell-matrix interactions pivotal in cell migration, (ii) cell-cell adhesion, and (iii) the association between pericytes and endothelial cells. Secondly, a high-risk high-gain reverse approach using innovative technologies aims to identify the specific genetic profiles of motile osteoprogenitors and bone-anchored mature osteoblasts.Overall this project will bring novel mechanistic insight in osteogenic cell movement in bone biology and pathology, and add to our broader understanding of cell migration and progenitor properties. The potential to evoke new therapies to widespread skeletal pathologies underscores the study’s importance and high impact. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasis Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS4 - ERC Starting Grant - Physiology, Pathophysiology and Endocrinology Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101109 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Address Oude markt 13 3000 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Christa Renée Julie Emilia C. Maes (Prof.) Administrative Contact Stijn Delauré (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium EU contribution € 1 499 200,00 Address Oude markt 13 3000 Leuven See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Christa Renée Julie Emilia C. Maes (Prof.) Administrative Contact Stijn Delauré (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
