Posted on September 22, 2011
Since our research group is investigating the actions of fatty acids on osteoclast functioning, I found recent advances in the understanding of osteoclast regulation by the immune system, also known as osteo-immunology, quite interesting. It has been shown that osteoclast differentiation and function are regulated by various immune molecules including cytokines, receptors, signal transducers and transcription factors. This field of research is currently receiving much attention.
I had the opportunity to present a poster ‘In vitro effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages’ with Christo Boeyens (MSc student, Dept of Physiology, UP), Prof Annie Joubert (Dept of Physiology, UP), Prof Marlena Kruger and Dr Wei Chua (co-investigators, Massey University, New Zealand) as co-authors. The poster was well-received and led to interesting discussions.
After the conference I had a few days free and visited the lovely Greek isles of Mykonos and Santorini. I also brought a visit to Kalambaka, a rural town in Greece, known for its old monasteries situated on the Meteora rocks.
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