News

Two new publications by the MeBoDD lab

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:24:37 GMT

The MeBoDD lab recently published two manuscripts! In the first, Shauni Loopmans and colleagues investigated how culturing skeletal stem and progenitors in hypoxia rewires their metabolic profile. This study was published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, and you can read it here: https://academic.oup.com/jbmr/article/39/2/150/7516972?login=true . Congratulations!

In the second, published in Nature Reviews in Endocrinology, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on skeletal cell metabolism and how it regulates their function during bone development and disease. For more reading: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-024-00969-x

Presentation Karina Geurtzen at ECTS 2023 and Keystone Tumor Metabolism 2024

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:10:25 GMT

The abstract of Karina Geurtzen was selected for a plenary oral presentation at the 2023 ECTS meeting in Liverpool, UK and at 2024 Keystone Symposium on Tumor Metabolism in Banff, Canada. Here, she presented how mitochondrial respiration in breast tumor cells drives bone metastasis. Congratulations!!

Publication on the importance of the serine synthesis pathway for osteoclast differentiation

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:10:27 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen, who published his work on the role of de novo serine synthesis for osteoclastogenesis in Nature Metabolism. In this study, we could show that transient activation of the serine synthesis pathway during the early phases of osteoclast differentiation is necessary to generate a-ketoglutarate, which is subsequently used for epigenetic regulation of NFATc1 expression. You can read the article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-023-00948-y

FWO and C1 internal funding for the MeBoDD lab

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 15:10:28 GMT

In 2023, the lab received funding for two new research projects. In the first project, funded by the Research Foundation-Flanders (‘Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek’ – FWO), we will investigate in collaboration with the lab of prof. Vanessa Dubois (UGhent) the effect of gender-affirming therapy, started during early puberty, on liver and bone. In the second project, funded by an internal grant by the KU Leuven (Special Research Fund), we will investigate whether and how metabolic changes in skeletal progenitors underlie the osteo-adipogenic switch that is observed during osteoporotic bone loss. We thank the funding agencies for their generous support and are looking forward to the exciting new insights that these projects will generate!

New members in the MeBoDD lab

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:10:29 GMT

We welcome Karina Guertzen, Bethan Davies, Lore Rosseels and Annabel Müller to the lab! Karina will work on the metabolic reprogramming in bone-metastasizing breast cancer cells, Bethan will investigate the metabolic rewiring in skeletal progenitors during metabolic bone disease, Lore will study the role of glucose metabolism in skeletal progenitors during bone development and repair, and Annabel will investigate the impact of anti-obesity drugs on bone metabolism.

Farewell

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:10:30 GMT

Claire-Sophie Devignes, Shauni Loopmans, Guillaume Tournaire, Sophie Torrekens and Sisir Kumar Barik have all found exciting new (scientific) challenges. Good luck with your new projects and we wish you all the best!

PhD defense Shauni

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 15:10:31 GMT

Big congratulations to Shauni Loopmans, now also known as Dr. Loopmans, for defending her PhD thesis entitled ‘Understanding chondrocyte metabolism and its applications for bone tissue engineering’! Thank you to the jury members Ernestina Schipani, Martina Rauner, Rik Lories and Guy Eelen for challenging Shauni and making this a great interactive defense.

Bone cells in space

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 15:10:32 GMT

In collaboration with the European Space Agency, a delegation of the MeBoDD lab traveled to Florida (2022) to send osteoblastic cells to the International Space Station. Upon their return to earth, we will investigate the impact of space conditions on bone cell metabolism and behavior.

New group leader at the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology lab

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 14:10:32 GMT

As of October 1 ^st 2022, our postdoc Steve Stegen will start his own research group at the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology Unit. His research will focus on the metabolic crosstalk of skeletal cells and how this is altered during pathology. We wish him the best of luck and look forward continuing our collaboration in the future!

MeBoDD representation at Gordon Research Seminar/Conference on Bones and Teeth 2022

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 14:10:34 GMT

The studies of Shauni Loopmans (poster) and Steve Stegen (oral presentation) will be presented at the Gordon Research Seminar/Conference on Bones and Teeth 2022 in Ventura, California. As a co-chair, Shauni was involved in organizing the Gordon Research Seminar, and we look very much forward to this exciting meeting.

MeBoDD representation at ASBMR 2022

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:10:35 GMT

The abstract of Shauni Loopmans on the role of the pentose phosphate pathway in chondrocytes has been selected for oral presentation at the ASBMR 2022 conference in Austin, Texas. Moreover, she has been awarded with the prestigious ASBMR Young Investigator Award – congratulations!

Steve Stegen will present his work on the serine synthesis pathway in osteoclasts as a poster.

Publication on a method for the isolation of skeletal progenitors

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:10:38 GMT

Congratulations to Shauni Loopmans, who published a novel and straightforward method to isolate skeletal progenitors from young-adult mice. This publication was part of the ‘Rising Stars in Bone Research’ topic at Frontiers in Endocrinology. If you want the technical details of this isolation procedure, take a look here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.930358/full .

Publication on the importance of mitochondrial metabolism for skeletal progenitor properties

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:10:37 GMT

Big congratulations to Guillaume Tournaire, who published his work on the role of mitochondrial metabolism for skeletal progenitor properties in Cell Reports. In this study, he could show that inhibition of complex III of the electron transport chain preserves the self-renewing potential of skeletal progenitors during in vitro culture, while maintaining their proliferation via adaptations in NADH/NAD+ metabolism. If you want to read more on the metabolic plasticity of these progenitor cells, take a look here ( https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(22)00907-X ).

MeBoDD representation at ECTS 2022

Sat, 07 May 2022 21:23:55 GMT

The abstracts of Claire-Sophie Devignes and Shauni Loopmans were both selected for oral presentation at the ECTS 2022 conference in Helsinki, Finland. A special shout-out to Shauni, who was awarded with the New Investigator Award, congratulations! Steve Stegen presented his work on the metabolic adaptations in osteoarthritis as a poster, and gave an overview on the state-of-the-art methodologies to analyze skeletal cell metabolism at the pre-conference symposium on ‘Omics methodology in bone research’.

Publication on the role of the serine synthesis pathway in chondrocytes

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 22:22:48 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen on his recently published work in Bone Research on the importance of the serine synthesis pathway in chondrocytes. He could show that de novo serine synthesis from glucose regulates chondrocyte proliferation and that this metabolic pathway is critical to cope with fluctuations in serine availability. The article can be accessed here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41413-021-00185-7 .

MeBoDD representation at ASBMR 2021

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:19:17 GMT

The abstracts of Shauni Loopmans and Steve Stegen were both selected for an oral presentation at the ASBMR 2021 conference in San Diego, California. Stay tuned for their work on the role of glucose metabolism for chondrocyte function during bone development. Guillaume Tournaire will present his work on mitochondrial metabolism and skeletal progenitor properties as a late-breaking poster. There is clearly more than bioenergetics that meets the eye!

Claire-Sophie Devignes was awarded a 2-year Marie Sklodowka-Curie postdoc fellowship.

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:12:45 GMT

A great honor for Claire-Sophie Devignes, who was awarded a 2-year Marie Sklodowka-Curie postdoc fellowship. Claire-Sophie received this highly competitive European grant for her exciting project proposal on metabolic regulation of bone metastasis (META2 project – IF 841199)

Abstract of the project:

Triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) metastasize to the bone, resulting in progressive bone destruction and severe complications for the patient. TNBC colonize the bone already much earlier, but they often stay dormant for several years and remain undetectable. Recent studies showed that at this early stage, TNBC cells are in close proximity to bone-forming cells (osteoblasts), and this interaction promotes TNBC survival and proliferation. Interestingly, recent findings also indicate that the metabolism of tumor cells not only drives primary tumor growth, but also determines which cells will metastasize to lung or liver, indicating metabolic interactions of TNBC with their microenvironment. This concept may also apply to TNBC in bone, but insight in the metabolism of TNBC colonizing the bone is lacking. We hypothesize that to survive and thrive in the bone TNBC cells rely on a specific profile that is complementary in nutrient needs to osteoblasts. Thus, our objective is to characterize the metabolism of TNBC in bone at early time points and to validate that targeting this metabolism will limit or prevent bone metastasis. To this end, we will combine metabolomics and transcriptomics on in vivo and in vitro models to identify important metabolic enzymes that will then be validated in in vivo models and human samples. This better understanding of the metabolism of TNBC in the bone is essential for the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.

MeBoDD representation at ECTS 2021

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:26:02 GMT

The abstracts of Shauni Loopmans, Guillaume Tournaire and Steve Stegen have all been selected for oral presentation at the ECTS 2021 virtual conference! Watch out for their talks on May 8 ^th to hear our latest work on the metabolic regulation of skeletal cells during bone development and regeneration.

New lab member and farewell

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 17:29:31 GMT

We welcome a new member in the MeBoDD lab: Sisir Kumar Barik. For his postdoctoral work, Sisir will work on characterizing the metabolic needs of skeletal stem cells and osteoblasts in health and disease. Good luck on your project!

After more than 20 years, Riet Van Looveren has found a new challenge as a lab technician at Genzyme. Riet, your joyfulness and expertise in bone histology will be dearly missed!

PhD defense of Guillaume Tournaire

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:28:12 GMT

Congratulations to Guillaume Tournaire, now rightfully called Dr. Tournaire, on a great job defending his PhD work on ‘Targeting skeletal stem cell metabolism to optimize bone regeneration strategies’. Thank you to the jury members prof. Sarah-Maria Fendt, Courtney Karner, Moustapha Kassem and Frank Luyten for the great discussion!

XCT core facility: newly recognized core facility at KU Leuven

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 11:17:26 GMT

Together with Martine Wevers (SET group, Department of Materials Engineering), Geert Carmeliet is leading a newly recognized XCT core facility, combining seven devices for micro- and nanofocus XCT. This inter-group consortium unites expertise and services on XCT research on a wide variety of materials and biological tissues. More information will soon be available at www.XCT.kuleuven.be .

The MeBoDD lab has moved to O&N1 bis!

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 11:17:24 GMT

As of December 7 ^th , the MeBoDD lab is located in the new O&N1 bis building at the KU Leuven - Gasthuisberg Campus. We are thrilled about this new infrastructure, as it will certainly help us with our research.

New group leader at the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology lab

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 11:17:23 GMT

As of October 1 ^st , we have welcomed dr. Mitsugu Shimobayashi as new senior academic staff member at the Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology lab. His research will focus on the role of adipocytes in type 2 diabetes. We wish dr. Shimobayashi the best of luck with his research and are looking forward in starting exciting collaborations.

Publication on the role of glutamine metabolism in osteoprogenitors during bone formation

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 11:17:21 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen, who published his work on the importance of glutamine metabolism for osteoprogenitor function in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. In this study, he could demonstrate that glutamine catabolism sustains osteoprogenitor survival and biosynthesis, which is necessary for bone formation in normal conditions and upon stimulation with the osteoanabolic drug PTH. For more reading, click here ( https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbmr.4219 ).

Publication on the importance of glutamine metabolism for endochondral bone formation

Thu, 28 May 2020 17:26:28 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen, who published his work on the regulation of chondrocyte function by glutamine metabolism in Developmental Cell. In this study, he showed that SOX9, the master chondrogenic transcription factor, induces glutamine uptake and catabolism. In turn, these metabolic adaptations are required for chondrogenic gene expression, biosynthesis and redox homeostasis, thereby revealing a tripartite role for glutamine metabolism in cartilage cells. For more reading, click here ( https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(20)30357-9 ).

Steve Stegen elected as member of the ECTS Academy

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:01:00 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen, who was elected to become member of the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Academy. The ECTS Academy, which was inaugurated in 2016, forms a network of young researchers on calcified tissue and musculoskeletal diseases to promote scientific excellence through fostering collaborations and mentoring young scientists and medical doctors. Steve will be an active ECTS Academy member for the next 5 years.

More information about the ECTS Academy can be found here

Publication on metabolic regulation of chondrocyte specification during bone repair

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:59:53 GMT

Exciting news for Nick van Gastel: his study on the metabolic regulation of chondrocyte specification is now online in Nature. He elegantly demonstrated that lipid scarcity is an important factor favoring chondrogenic commitment during bone repair by activating SOX9, highlighting the importance of the nutritional microenvironment for skeletal cell fate specification. The article can be found here .

Our work was also highlighted by the KU Leuven, a link can be found here .

Invited lecture for Steve Stegen at the EWRR

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:58:23 GMT

Steve Stegen had the pleasure to give an invited lecture on the metabolic regulation of skeletal cell function during bone development and regeneration at the 40th European Workshop for Rheumatology Research (EWRR) in Leuven.

Publication on the discovery of Nestin-GFP positive osteoprogenitors in long bone periosteum

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:53:22 GMT

Great news for Guillaume Tournaire: his first scientific publication on the role of Nestin-GFP expressing cells during bone repair was accepted for publication in Bone. He nicely demonstrated that Nestin-GFP positive cells in the periosteum are osteoprogenitors that actively contribute to fracture repair. For further reading, the article is available here .

Short talk for Shauni Loopmans at this year’s GRS on Bones and Teeth

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 13:52:04 GMT

The abstract of Shauni Loopmans was selected for a short oral presentation at the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Bones and Teeth, and she had a poster presentation at the accompanying Gordon Research Conference (GRC). Moreover, she had the great honor of being appointed as organizing chair for the upcoming Bones and Teeth GRS in 2022.

Research grant from the Research Foundation Flanders

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:49:56 GMT

Prof. Geert Carmeliet (PI) and Steve Stegen (co-PI) had the great honor to receive a national research grant from the Research Foundation Flanders to support their work on characterizing the metabolic role of glucose for bone homeostasis.

MeBoDD lab members at the Metabolism Meets Epigenetics meeting at EMBL

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 13:47:48 GMT

Guillaume Tournaire (poster presentation) and Steve Stegen (oral presentation) presented their work on metabolic regulation of skeletal cell stemness and chondrocyte function at the Metabolism Meets Epigenetics meeting at EMBL Heidelberg.

MeBoDD lab representation at the Stichting tegen Kanker meeting

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:46:24 GMT

Prof. Geert Carmeliet, Claire-Sophie Devignes and Greta Giacomini will present their concept of metabolic regulation of bone metastasis to donators and patients at the Stichting tegen Kanker (Foundation against Cancer) meeting in Brussels. Always interesting to interact with donators and patients. Happy to participate.

Review article on the hypoxia signaling pathway in bone

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 12:43:43 GMT

The review article by Steve Stegen and Geert Carmeliet on the role of hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible transcription factors and oxygen-sensing prolyl hydroxylases in bone development and homeostasis is now online in Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension. This review is available here .

Steve Stegen receives a postdoc grant from the Research Foundation Flanders

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 12:41:41 GMT

Congratulations to Steve Stegen, for being awarded a senior postdoc grant from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). Steve’s three-year fellowship will support his project focused on the role of chondrocyte metabolism during osteoarthritis.

Short talk for Steve Stegen at this year’s GRS on Cartilage Biology and Pathology

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 11:19:00 GMT

The abstract of Steve Stegen on the regulation of chondrocyte function by glutamine metabolism has been selected for an oral presentation at the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Cartilage Biology and Pathology. During the subsequent Gordon Research Conference (GRC), he will present his work by poster presentation.

Collaborative study on metabolic regulation of breast cancer metastasis now online

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 23:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Ilaria Elia from the lab of Sarah-Maria Fendt (KU Leuven/VIB Center for Cancer Biology), for publishing her exciting work on the role of pyruvate metabolism in metastasis formation in Nature. Happy that our lab has contributed to this fascinating story! The paper can be found under the following link .

Our research was highlighted on the cover of the February JBMR issue

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:51:36 GMT

JBMR, one of the leading bone-related journals, selected one of our figures for the cover of their latest issue. Congratulations to Pieter-Jan Stiers and all collaborators for their study revealing the role of the oxygen sensor PHD2 in bone regeneration. The paper can be accessed here .

Marie Sklodowka-Curie postdoc fellowship for Claire-Sophie Devignes

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 14:51:36 GMT

Publication on the metabolic regulation of collagen synthesis in hypoxic growth plate chondrocytes

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 23:00:00 GMT

Big congratulations to Steve Stegen and Kjell Laperre, who published their work on metabolic regulation of collagen synthesis by growth plate chondrocytes in Nature. They elegantly demonstrated that the hypoxia signaling pathway controls glucose and glutamine metabolism in chondrocytes, necessary for proper collagen synthesis and modification. The manuscript describing their findings can be found here .