York biologist in bones study to help osteoporosis patients
A leading York biologist has been awarded a major grant to study the actions of a recently discovered gene on bone growth, which could have long-term implications for patients with osteoporosis.
Professor Tim Skerry of the University of York, has been awarded a grant of nearly £94,000 from medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign to investigate changes in bone mass.
"Changes in bone mass in diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis lead to fracture, pain and disability," explained Tim Skerry, who is Professor of Biology in the Bone and Joint Research Unit. "To understand better how to control bone mass, we are investigating the effects of movement and exercise, which is one of the major influences of bone mass."
Bones are living tissues, which develop cracks and holes as we age. Damaged bits of bone get eaten away by special cells, and other bone-forming cells form new bone in a process called remodelling. Exercise is a major influence on bone, making it stronger, and ensuring that the reformed new bone is as strong as the old bone. In older people, particularly post-menopausal women, the reformed bone is less strong, and more brittle, so that osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease, develops.
This process of bone reforming takes place because certain cells in the bone communicate with each other by sending signals to each other. One of the factors that controls the way they respond to each other is a chemical trigger called nitric oxide.
Professor Skerry has found that one gene, called Akt, that appears to be regulated by the effects of exercise in bone, controls the production of nitric oxide, and also improves cells survival.
Understanding of how Akt work in bone therefore moves us one step further towards the start of the events that happen in bone, in response to exercise.
"The earlier you can get into the signalling cascade, the easier it is to manipulate the process of bone remodelling," added Professor Skerry. "Advances in understanding the mechanisms by which bone responds to activity and movement may allow the development of new ways to alter and control bone mass in disease. This ultimately could lead to more effective treatment of patients with osteoporosis."
The Arthritis Research Campaign is the fifth biggest medical research charity in the UK, existing to find the cause of and cure for arthritis and rheumatic disease. Over the past 12 months it has raised almost £23m from public donations to fund its extensive research programme.
