Mutational Effects on Collagen's Structure and Stability , Teri E. Klein, Ph.D., Stanford University, California. This study concentrates on the structure and function of collagen in its normal and altered states. Expansion of Stem Cells for Skeletal Tissues , Darwin J. Prockop, M.D., Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans. However, questions remain about generating new cells with normal structure and function, as well as regulating cell replication. Researchers also will determine how to regulate the number of stem cells produced in culture.
Bones break easily, often from little or no apparent cause.
There are at least four types of OI, representing extreme variation in severity from one person to another. For example, a person may have just a few or as many as several hundred fractures in a lifetime. OI is caused by a genetic defect that affects the body's production of collagen, the major protein of connective tissue, cartilage and bone. In OI, a person has either less collagen than normal, or a poorer quality of collagen than normal, leading to weak bones that fracture easily. Current treatment is directed toward preventing or controlling the symptoms, maximizing independent mobility and developing optimal bone mass and muscle strength.