Welcome to the Lab
The Neuroskeletal Biology Laboratory (NSBL) was founded in 2016 and is part of the Musculoskeletal Research Center (MRC) and Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases at Washington University. The laboratory consists of a mix of technicians, trainees/fellows, and undergraduate researchers. For more information about our members and their accomplishments, please see the people, awards, and antics pages. You can also find us on twitter.
Our Research
Our laboratory synthesizes concepts from cell biology, physiology, and bioengineering to study the relationships between the nervous system and the skeleton. We have a directed interest in understanding how neural signals contribute to skeletal homeostasis, and how perturbations to this system contribute to bone loss, impaired healing, and skeletal pain. For more information about our work, see our projects and publications.
Recent Events
Bone marrow adipose tissue does not express UCP1
Adipocytes within the skeleton are collectively termed bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). BMAT contributes to peripheral and local metabolism, however, its capacity for cell-autonomous expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a biomarker of beige and brown adipogenesis, remains unclear. To overcome this, Ucp1-Cre was used to drive diphtheria toxin expression in cells expressing UCP1 (Ucp1Cre+/DTA+). Despite […]
Welcome to Dr. Alexander Ahmadi and Xiao Zhang
A warm welcome to two new trainees. Dr. Alexander Ahmadi joins us from the Saint Louis University (SLU) periodontics residency program. Dr. Ahmadi will be working with us on the oral biosensor project. Xiao Zhang is currently visiting as a rotation student from the BME program at Washington University. Xiao will investigate the properties and […]
Shared Autonomic Pathways Connect Bone and Adipose Tissue.
Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is increased in both obesity and anorexia. This is unique relative to white adipose tissue (WAT), which is generally more attuned to metabolic demand. It suggests that there may be regulatory pathways that are common to both BMAT and WAT and also those that are specific to BMAT alone. The […]
Dr. Scheller discusses nerves, bone, and adiposity at ISBM2019
Dr. Scheller attended the XIVth Congress of the International Society of Bone Morphometry as an invited speaker and enjoyed the opportunity to share our work on nerves in bone and neural regulation of bone marrow adiposity.
Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Natalie Wee presents at ASBMR
Dr. Wee was selected for a podium presentation for her work entitled "Shared autonomic pathways connect bone marrow and peripheral adipose tissues across the central neuraxis". She presented during the session on 'Bone-Lipid Connections' at the recent 2019 ASBMR meeting. This work was also recently accepted for publication in Frontiers in Endocrinology. Congratulations Natalie!
Congratulations and farewell to Dr. Craft
Dr. Craft has worked with us since the founding of the lab in 2016 and her contributions have helped to shape the lab into what it is today. We are thankful for her science and her leadership during the past few years. We wish her all the best as she transitions into her new career!
Dr. Scheller closes out the BMA2019 meeting
Dr. Scheller presented on neural regulation of marrow fat and its connections across the central neuraxis as the final talk of the 5th International Meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity in Odense, Denmark.
Peripheral Neuropathy as a Component of Diabetic Skeletal Disease
The goal of this review is to explore clinical associations between peripheral neuropathy and diabetic bone disease and to discuss how nerve dysfunction may contribute to dysregulation of bone metabolism, reduced bone quality, and fracture risk. In addition, we address therapeutic and experimental considerations to guide patient care and future research evaluating the emerging relationship […]
Madelyn Lorenz and Alec Beeve present at ISAN 2019
Members of the lab recently attended the 11th Congress of the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience to share their science with other SPARC investigators and the autonomic neuroscience community. The lab presented two posters including "Nerves of the Bone: Foundational Neuroanatomical Mapping of Skeletal Nerves from Bone to Brain" (Lorenz) and "Acute and chronic responses […]
Nerves in bone: evolving concepts in pain and anabolism.
This review provides a historical perspective of the field of skeletal neurobiology which highlights the diverse yet interconnected nature of nerves and skeletal health, particularly in the context of bone anabolism and pain.