Roy Morello, PhD

Roy Morello, PhD

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Research Project:
Teasing Out Factors Causing Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a Bone Disease that Affects Breathing

Grant Awarded:

  • Innovation Award

Research Topic:

  • basic biologic mechanisms

Congenital (birth) defects in type I collagen, the most abundant protein in our body, give rise to Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI – brittle bone disease). This is a disease that causes severe bone fragility as well as potential respiratory distress at birth and decreased respiratory function in adulthood. We will tease out the contribution of intrinsic (within the lung) versus extrinsic (outside of the lung, such as abnormalities in the chest wall and curvature of the spine) factors underlying the impaired breathing function in OI. We will also identify the alveolar cellular/molecular changes caused by type I collagen defects in animal models of OI. We will find out if intrinsic lung changes contribute significantly to breathing impairment in OI. This will provide a clearer understanding of the consequences of type I collagen mutations in the lung. Our goal is to identify new therapeutic targets and approaches to improve the overall health of patients with OI.S

Update:
We are on track with the proposed studies to determine the impact of type I collagen mutations/alterations on lung development and function, using mouse models of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). We have successfully generated and also validated the first conditional knock-in mouse model for OI which can express a type I collagen mutation causing OI in a tissue-specific manner. This new model in year two  will allow us to determine the primary effects of a severe OI-causing mutation on the lung but in the context of a healthy skeleton (i.e. with intact chest cavity). In year two  we will also identify cellular and molecular changes in the lungs in a second mouse model of OI at 5 weeks of age compared to control mice.

Page last updated: September 12, 2023

Asthma Basics Workshop - National
, | Apr 17, 2024
Asthma Basics Workshop - National
, | May 07, 2024