Skeletal Pathobiology Research
Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury, Ph.D, is focused on exploring the positive growth and differentiation regulating role of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) in bone cells. BMP-2 is a well characterized member of the BMP family of growth factors that is known to induce osteoblast and chondrocyte cell growth and differentiation, the lack of which will cause many bone disorders including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The transcriptional regulation of BMP-2 gene expression in osteoblast cells has been elucidated. This includes identification and characterization of two promoters that regulate BMP-2 gene expression as well as the involvement of different transcription factors (e.g., Spl, Sp3, Dlx2) in regulating BMP-2 gene expression. In addition, the involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and its downstream target (Akt/PKB) in BMP-2 mediated signaling during osteoblast growth and maturation has been documented.