GRINSTEIN
connective tissue lab
The behavior of cells in dense matrix environments in growth, homeostasis, aging and repair
Cells in dense matrix environments have unique mechanical constraints.
Our lab is interested in the regulation of cell signaling and cell behaviors that underpin tissue homeostasis,
and injury repair in the musculoskeletal system with an emphasis on tendon biology.
The diabetic tendon in exercise and aging
Tendon growth in exercise and its influence on the musculoskeletal system.
Somitogenesis
in the human embryo
The diabetic tendon and the vicious cycle of diabetic tendon injury
Diabetic patients have a 3-5-fold chance of rupturing their tendons. 50% of diabetic patients will avoid physical activity due to tendon problems which will worsen their condition.
Our research aims to find the molecular mechanisms and mechanical properties leading to tendon changes in diabetic patients.
We explore human diabetic tendons and diabetic mice models to find these changes and their influence on the musculoskeletal system.
The tendon growth in exercise and its influence on the musculoskeletal system in the young, aged, and obese population
How our body systems are maintained by physical activity is still somehow a black box for us.
Although it is common knowledge that physical activity is vital for a healthy and well-balanced life and is the keystone upon which several aspects of overall health are built, we still lack a basic understanding of how physical activity maintains our health from the molecular, cellular and tissue levels.
30-50% of all musculoskeletal injuries are tendon injuries. Therefore, it is highly important to better understand how the tendon grows in exercise at the young, the old, and the diabetic patients
The somitogenesis development in the human embryo
Somites represent transient, segmented blocks of tissue involved in the early embryonic development of vertebrates.
This segmentation is tightly regulated by a complex interplay of genes and signaling pathways, ultimately giving rise to diverse tissues including skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and cartilage, each possessing distinct extracellular matrix (ECM) properties.
Despite advances in understanding, the communication between cells and their surrounding matrix remains largely elusive during human somitogenesis. In this project, we aim to unravel this mystery by investigating human somitogenesis using ectopic human embryos.
Publications
A distinct transition from cell growth to physiological homeostasis in the tendon
Spatial High-resolution Analysis of Gene Expression Levels in Tendons
Two-Photon Microscopy for the Study of Tendons
Our Team
Mor Grinstein
Principal Investigator
