Vectorology - GEG Tech top picks

Autosomal Recessive Osteopetrosis (ARO) is a severe bone disease characterized by increased bone density due to impairment in osteoclast resorptive function or differentiation. Of note, whether lack of RANKL production might cause a defect also in the bone marrow (BM) stromal compartment, possibly contributing to the pathology, is unknown.To verify this possibility the scientists generated and characterized BM mesenchymal stromal cell (BM-MSC) lines from wild type and Rankl-/- mice, and found that Rankl-/- BM-MSCs displayed reduced clonogenicity and osteogenic capacity. The differentiation defect was significantly improved by lentiviral transduction of Rankl-/- BM-MSCs with a vector stably expressing human soluble RANKL (hsRANKL). Expression of Rankl receptor, Rank, on the cytoplasmic membrane of BM-MSCs pointed to the existence of an autocrine loop possibly activated by the secreted cytokine.