# Characterization of mandible derived osteoclasts under physiological and bone healing conditions

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $49,718

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Osteoclasts are the cells in the body responsible for bone resorption. Osteoclasts in the
craniofacial region participate in several skeletal site-specific processes that involve bone
resorption such as tooth eruption and orthodontic tooth movement. Much of what is known about
the activity of craniofacial osteoclasts in current literature is based on our understanding of
osteoclasts derived from the appendicular skeleton and long bones such as the femur. This
proposal aims to further elucidate the unique characteristics that exist between the osteoclasts
derived from the mandibular and the femur bone marrow. Evidence shows that these two
populations of osteoclasts are different, but the conclusions drawn about these differences are
unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing to identify unique cell clusters present within mandible
derived marrow cells as compared to long bone-derived bone marrow I have determined that
mandible derived monocytes have decreased expression of genes involved in proliferation but an
increase in inflammatory gene expression. Bulk RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq of monocytes from the
mandible and femur derived cells will be used to further determine changes in chromatin
accessibility (Aim1). Additionally, siRNA knockdown experiments will further explore the impact
of key genes identified by single-cell sequencing on osteoclast development. In addition to a lack
of mechanism for the existent differences between mandibular and long bone derived osteoclasts,
it is also unknown which osteoclast precursors are recruited to the site of injury during bone
healing in the mandible. Proposed experiments will work to determine if CX3CR1+ cells contribute
to mandible bone repair. It will be investigated if embryonic circulating and/or adult myeloid
precursors, defined by expression of the CX3CR1 or Vav1-reporters respectively, provide
osteoclasts within the mandible following a single cortex bone injury (Aim 2). Concurrently, this
work will further the understanding of osteoclasts role in craniofacial site-specific processes as
well as inform the future development of improved healing and regenerative treatments in the
craniofacial region. These research goals will be enriched by the training goals of this application.
The training goals of this application include learning techniques such as single cell RNA
sequencing analysis, bulk RNA sequencing, ATAC-sequencing, as well as mouse husbandry and
micro-computed tomography at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10996937
- **Project number:** 1F30DE033618-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel Blevins Phillips
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $49,718
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-03 → 2025-06-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10996937

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10996937, Characterization of mandible derived osteoclasts under physiological and bone healing conditions (1F30DE033618-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10996937. Licensed CC0.

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