What is the role of local production of active vitamin D in bone cells in vitro?
To specifically investigate the role of local production of vitamin D in the bone forming cell, the osteoblast, on cellular proliferation and differentiation, we have been developing bone cell models where specific knock-down of the transcription of the gene responsible for vitamin synthesis (CYP27B1) occurs and hence permanent reduction of the translation of CYP27B1 enzyme and the subsequent production of 1,25D. These and other cell models will be used in studies to further investigate the role of vitamin D in mineralisation assays of the human osteoblast. In addition, these cell models will enable the characterisation of a vitamin D-dependent investigation of down-stream gene expression of known and novel genes using both real-time PCR and micro-array analyses.What factors determine the regulation of CYP27B1 expression and activity in osteoblasts?Researchers in our laboratory are experienced in the investigation of the expression of the CYP27B1 promoter. Little was known about the re
