Bonewald Lab

The research lab of Lynda Bonewald, PhD, focuses on the biology and function of the osteocyte.

Investigators in this lab have two major focus areas: the crosstalk between osteocyte and muscle and the role of the osteocyte in calcium homeostasis under calcium demanding conditions.

Active Research

Osteocyte Regulation of Bone Muscle with Age

Muscle secretes factors that maintain osteocyte viability and function, and conversely osteocytes produce factors that support myogenesis and muscle function. These factors are being identified and their functions characterized.

Extracellular Vesicle Mediated Cell-Cell Communication in Bone

The lab is exploring the role of the osteocyte in calcium homeostasis under calcium demanding conditions such as during pregnancy. The mechanisms by which osteocytes can remove and replace calcium in their microenvironment is being examined. Trainees can learn osteocyte and muscle cell culture, isolation of primary osteocytes and muscle satellite cells, muscle contractility, application of fluid flow shear stress, mitochondrial imaging, loading and unloading of transgenic animals, in addition to standard molecular approaches and analyses.

Osteocyte Regulation of Bone Muscle with Age- Core A: Administrative Core and Subproject I: Muscle Regulation of Osteoblast/Osteocyte Function in Young compared with Aged Animals. Extracellular Vesicle Mediated Cell-Cell Communication in Bone.

Faculty Research Team

Yukiko Kitase, DDS, PhD

Assistant Research Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology

Charalampos Lyssikatos, MD

Assistant Research Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

Fabrizio Pin, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology