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Quantifying the roles of stimulated osteocytes and inflammation in bone remodeling

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2019, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Biomedical Engineering.
Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an elusive disease that presents as exposed necrotic bone following tooth extraction. It occurs in patients undergoing bisphosphonate therapy for metastasizing cancers and osteoporosis. Experts believe the condition is caused by a defect in bone remodeling, the process by which osteoclasts resorb bone and osteoblasts form new bone, within the oral cavity. Its complexity requires a multicellular model to address the net effects of two key risk factors: tooth extraction (overload) and inflammation associated with bacterial infection. In this work, a system comprised of a deformable polymeric chip and mechanical loading device is used to expose bisphosphonate-treated osteocytes, the mechanosensing bone cells, to overload. Osteocyte viability is evaluated as a function of load, and soluble activity is assessed. Effects of these factors on bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts are quantified. Osteoclast activity is also quantified in the presence of inflammatory agents, lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma. Results support a role for osteocyte mechanotransduction in suppressing osteoblast bone formation within a BRONJ environment. They also suggest inflammation may inhibit resorption of necrotic bone by osteoclasts. These findings provide insights into BRONJ that may contribute to its elucidation. This dissertation also lays the foundation for a biomimetic lab-on-a-chip platform for the study of bone turnover and remodeling-related disease. Fabrication techniques are developed, and osteocyte, osteoclast and osteoblast characterizations are performed on relevant substrates within microfluidic devices. Culture conditions, including seeding densities, feeding requirements and time points for analyses are determined. This work will enable the development of a controlled multicellular lab-on-a-chip capable of quantifying the aggregate response of bone cells to disease cofactors.
Marnie Saunders, PhD (Advisor)
Hossein Tavana, PhD (Committee Member)
Ge Zhang, PhD (Committee Member)
Jiang Zhe, PhD (Committee Member)
Sailaja Paruchuri, PhD (Committee Member)
136 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • George, E. L. (2019). Quantifying the roles of stimulated osteocytes and inflammation in bone remodeling [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron155559673634022

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • George, Estee. Quantifying the roles of stimulated osteocytes and inflammation in bone remodeling. 2019. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron155559673634022.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • George, Estee. "Quantifying the roles of stimulated osteocytes and inflammation in bone remodeling." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron155559673634022

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)