Helen E. Gruber

Disruption of the thrombospondin-2 gene alters the lamellar morphology but does not permit vascularization of the adult mouse lumbar disc (2008)

Gruber, Helen E, Bornstein, Paul, Sage, E Helene, Ingram, Jane A, Zinchenko, Natalia, Norton, H James, ...

Abstract Introduction The biological basis for the avascular state of the intervertebral disc is not well understood. Previous work has suggested that the presence of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a...

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from the sand rat: transforming growth factor beta and 3D co-culture with human disc cells stimulate proteoglycan and collagen type I rich extracellular matrix (2008)

Tapp, Hazel, Deepe, Ray, Ingram, Jane A, Kuremsky, Marshall, Hanley, Edward N, Gruber, Helen E

Abstract Introduction Adult mesenchymal stem cell therapy has a potential application in the biological treatment of disc degeneration. Our objectives were: to direct adipose-derived mesenchymal stem...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor in the human and the sand rat intervertebral disc (2008)

Gruber, Helen E, Ingram, Jane A, Hoelscher, Gretchen, Zinchenko, Natalia, Norton, H James, Hanley, Edward N

Abstract Introduction Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was first identified in the intervertebral disc (IVD) when its molecular upregulation was observed in sections of nucleus pulposus...

Three-dimensional culture of human meniscal cells: Extracellular matrix and proteoglycan production (2008)

Gruber, Helen E, Mauerhan, David, Chow, Yin, Ingram, Jane A, Norton, H James, Hanley, Edward N, ...

Abstract Background The meniscus is a complex tissue whose cell biology has only recently begun to be explored. Published models rely upon initial culture in the presence of added growth factors. The...

Do We Need Biomarkers for Disc Degeneration? (2006)

Helen E. Gruber

Disc degeneration plays a major role in this country's medical, social and economic structure. The life-time prevalence of low back pain, which has disc degeneration as its cause, is about 80% in the...

Immunolocalization of RANKL is Increased and OPG Decreased During Dietary Magnesium Deficiency in the Rat (2005)

Rude, Robert K, Gruber, Helen E, Wei, Livia Y, Frausto, Angelica

Abstract Background Epidemiological studies have linked low dietary magnesium (Mg) to low bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Mg deficiency in animal models has demonstrated a reduction in bone...

Magnesium deficiency: effect on bone mineral density in the mouse appendicular skeleton (2003)

Gruber, Helen E, Rude, Robert K, Wei, L, Frausto, A, Mills, Barbara G, Norton, H James

Abstract Background Dietary magnesium (Mg) deficiency in the mouse perturbs bone and mineral homeostasis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate bone mineral density of the femur in...

Computer aided vertebral visualization and analysis: a methodology using the sand rat, a small animal model of disc degeneration (2003)

Wilson, Christy, Brown, Darien, Najarian, Kayvan, Hanley, Edward N, Gruber, Helen E

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to present an automated system that analyzes digitized x-ray images of small animal spines identifying the effects of disc degeneration. The...

Observations on morphologic changes in the aging and degenerating human disc: Secondary collagen alterations (2002)

Gruber, Helen E, Hanley, Edward N

Abstract Background In the annulus, collagen fibers that make up the lamellae have a wavy, planar crimped pattern. This crimping plays a role in disc biomechanical function by allowing collagen...

Expression and localization of estrogen receptor-β in annulus cells of the human intervertebral disc and the mitogenic effect of 17-β-estradiol in vitro (2002)

Gruber, Helen E, Yamaguchi, Dean, Ingram, Jane, Leslie, Kelly, Huang, Weibiao, Miller, Timothy A, ...

Abstract Background Recent evidence suggests that estrogens exert effects in different tissues throughout the body, and that the estrogen receptor β (ERβ) may be important for the action of...

Alterations in osteoclast morphology following long-term 17beta-estradiol administration in the mouse (2001)

Gruber, Helen E, Puzanov, Igor J, Bennett, Michael, Kumar, Vinay, Gordon, Brian

Abstract Background Although the role of the osteoclast in bone resorption is becoming better understood, much remains to be learned about osteoclastogenesis and the exact mechanism of action of...

Human disc cells in monolayer vs 3D culture: cell shape, division and matrix formation (2000)

Gruber, Helen E, Hanley, Edward N

Abstract Background The relationship between cell shape, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production, important aspects of cell behavior, is examined in a little-studied cell type, the...

Mutation of the sequestosome 1 (p62) gene increases osteoclastogenesis but does not induce Paget disease

Kurihara, Noriyoshi, Hiruma, Yuko, Zhou, Hua, Subler, Mark A., Dempster, David W., Singer, Frederick R., ...

Paget disease is the most exaggerated example of abnormal bone remodeling, with the primary cellular abnormality in the osteoclast. Mutations in the p62 (sequestosome 1) gene occur in one-third of...