Gartland Bone Group

The principal research area of the Gartland Bone Group (GBG) is in understanding the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for musculoskeletal disease, with an emphasis on the role of extracellular ATP and P2 receptors. As a result of earlier seminal work by the group leader, Dr Alison Gartland, that demonstrated the functional expression and consequence of P2X₇ receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, these receptors are now receiving considerable attention as potential mediators of bone remodelling and targets for drug therapy.

Association of polymorphisms in the P2X₇ receptor with osteoporosis and arthritis-induced joint destruction and bone loss.

This is an Arthitis Research UK funded project to find out how the P2X₇ receptor is involved in the normal growth and replacement of cartilage and bone that occurs throughout our lifetime. Knowing what the P2X₇ receptor does in normal conditions can help us find out what it does in diseases affecting cartilage and bone such as rheumatoid arthritis. We also want to find out if people who have severe rheumatoid arthritis have a different genetic code for P2X₇ receptor to people with milder rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

The effect of metal ions on bone cell activity in vitro.

In recent years metal-on metal hip resurfacing (MOMHR) has become a common alternative to conventional metal-on-polyethylene or ceramic total hip arthroplasty (THA) in younger patients with osteoarthritis. Currently in the United Kingdom 40% of all patients <50 years of age with hip arthritis receive a MOMHR, rather than a conventional THA. However, adverse events including failure of implant osseo-integration, periprosthetic fracture, femoral neck narrowing, and unexplained pain occur more frequently following MOMHR versus THA, resulting in a higher revision rate at 3 years postsurgery. The aims of this project are to investigate the effect of short-term and chronic Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ ion exposure at clinically relevant concentrations on bone cell biology. This is a collaborative project with Mr Mark Wilkinson and is funded by the Bone BRU and the Cavendish Hip Foundation.

Other Projects.

In addition to interest in musculoskeletal disease, GBG's research extends into the area of cancer (osteosarcoma and breast cancer) due to the role ATP and P2 receptors have been shown to play in synergising with growth factors to stimulate c- fos gene expression, cell proliferation and neoplastic progression.

The Gartland Bone Group's research integrates with the research activities of a larger group of both basic and clinical researchers within The Mellanby Centre for Bone Research.