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Master thesis / Semester project: Do neutrophils contribute to bone marrow inflammation in low back pain?
We are looking for a motivated student investigating the role of neutrophils in the pathobiology of Modic type 1 changes (MC1). MC1 are edema of the vertebral bone marrow that cause low back pain. We have previously shown dysregulated neutrophil maturation in MC1 bone marrow.
Keywords: Low back pain
Modic changes
Neutrophils
Bone marrow inflammation
qPCR, Western Blotting, flow cytometry, (FACS)
Cytokine stimulation
Patient samples
Translational project
MC1 are edema of the vertebral bone marrow that cause low back pain . Despite the clinical relevance and the high prevalence of MC1, the pathobiology remains poorly understood and targeted treatments do not exist.We have previously shown dysregulated neutrophil maturation in MC1 bone marrow .
The aim of this project is to show that neutrophils in MC1 bone marrow are in an activated pro-inflammatory state. This is critical to understand MC1 pathobiology and develop novel treatment approaches. To this end, we are establishing an in vitro protocol to quantify neutrophil activation.
In this project, you will help establishing this important protocol. First, you will test different cytokine stimulation conditions and identify optimal readout parameters with qPCR, Western Blotting and flow cytometry. For this part, you will work with human blood neutrophils. In the second part, you will then test the activation status of neutrophils isolated from MC1 bone marrow using your optimized methodological approach.
The project will be conducted at the Center of Experimental Rheumatology at the Balgrist Campus. The Center of Experimental Rheumatology is a European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) center of Excellence. Human bone marrow samples are investigated that are obtained from patients with low back pain through a collaboration with Prof. Mazda Farshad, head of Spine Surgery and Clinic Director, Balgrist University Hospital.
Tasks: 70% lab work, 30% documentation
Project start: Immediately or on agreement.
MC1 are edema of the vertebral bone marrow that cause low back pain . Despite the clinical relevance and the high prevalence of MC1, the pathobiology remains poorly understood and targeted treatments do not exist.We have previously shown dysregulated neutrophil maturation in MC1 bone marrow . The aim of this project is to show that neutrophils in MC1 bone marrow are in an activated pro-inflammatory state. This is critical to understand MC1 pathobiology and develop novel treatment approaches. To this end, we are establishing an in vitro protocol to quantify neutrophil activation.
In this project, you will help establishing this important protocol. First, you will test different cytokine stimulation conditions and identify optimal readout parameters with qPCR, Western Blotting and flow cytometry. For this part, you will work with human blood neutrophils. In the second part, you will then test the activation status of neutrophils isolated from MC1 bone marrow using your optimized methodological approach.
The project will be conducted at the Center of Experimental Rheumatology at the Balgrist Campus. The Center of Experimental Rheumatology is a European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) center of Excellence. Human bone marrow samples are investigated that are obtained from patients with low back pain through a collaboration with Prof. Mazda Farshad, head of Spine Surgery and Clinic Director, Balgrist University Hospital.
Tasks: 70% lab work, 30% documentation
Project start: Immediately or on agreement.
The aim of this project is to show that neutrophils in MC1 bone marrow are in an activated pro-inflammatory state. This is critical to understand MC1 pathobiology and develop novel treatment approaches.
The aim of this project is to show that neutrophils in MC1 bone marrow are in an activated pro-inflammatory state. This is critical to understand MC1 pathobiology and develop novel treatment approaches.
Irina Heggli: irina.heggli@usz.ch
Stefan Dudli: stefan.dudli@usz.ch
Oliver Distler: oliver.distler@usz.ch
Irina Heggli: irina.heggli@usz.ch Stefan Dudli: stefan.dudli@usz.ch Oliver Distler: oliver.distler@usz.ch