Genome wide association studies (GWAS) play a crucial role in discovery of potential novel therapeutic targets. By analysing the differences in occurrence frequency of genetic variants between healthy and diseased patients, the method enables us to find the locations in the genome, which influence the observed trait. With this method, variants in Membrane Palmitoylated Protein 7 (MPP7) were associated with bone mineral density. However, its role in regulation of bone mineral density is not determined yet.
The purpose of this master thesis was to confirm that MPP7 protein is involved in differentiation of osteosarcoma cells MG-63, that we used as model cell line for osteoblasts. We compared two cell lines; knock-out MG-63 cells, which did not express a functional MPP7 protein (MPP7 KO), and control MG-63 cell line which still had the ability to produce MPP7 protein (KC).
We used multiple methods to estimate the stage of osteoblast differentiation. The differentiation of both cell types was assessed using RT-qPCR method (reverse transcription quatitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) at different differentiation time points. We determined the expression of Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Collagen Type I Alpha 1 Chain 1 (COL1A1) and Bone Gamma-Carboxyglutamate Protein (BGLAP or OC). Expression of each gene was normalized according to expression of reference gene, which was in our case gene for TATA-Box Binding Protein (TBP). We also measured Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and total protein content.
Our results showed that RUNX2 and COL1A1 genes expression were higher in MPP7 KO cells than in control cells, but ALP gene expression was lower in MPP7 KO cells than in control cells. Expression of OC gene was similar in both cell cultures. We also found out that knock-out cells have lower ALP activity. But there were no differences between cell lines in total protein content.
Based on our results we can conclude that MPP7 protein has some impact on differentiation of osteoblasts, because knock-out cells differentiated slower than cells expressing MPP7. More studies are needed to explore the exact mechanism, through which MPP7 is involved in cell differentiation.
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