Bone Abstracts

Genetic skeletal diseases (GSDs) are an extremely diverse and complex group of rare genetic diseases that primarily affect the development and homeostasis of the osseous skeleton. There are more than 450 unique and well-characterised phenotypes that range in severity from relatively mild to severe and lethal forms. Although individually rare, as a group of related genetic diseases, GSDs have an overall prevalence of at least 1/4000 child. Qualitative defects in cartilage struc...

Biographical DetailsMichael D Briggs obtained his PhD at the MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, studying the genetic basis of osteogenesis imperfecta. He undertook postdoctoral work at UCLA identifying the genetic basis of chondrodysplasias. In 1996 Mike moved to Manchester as an AR-UK Fellow to continue studying disease mechanisms in chondrodysplasia. In 2004 he was awarded a Wellcome...

Cysteine-rich with EGF like domains 2 (Creld2) has recently been identified as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducible gene in the context of skeletal dysplasia caused by mutant protein accumulating in the ER eliciting an unfolded protein response (UPR). Creld2 was originally implicated in ER stress following the treatment of Neuro2α cells with thapsigargin. Furthermore, the promoter of Creld2 contains an ER stress activating transcription factor ...