Dr Simon Tew

UK Centre for Tissue Engineering

Faculty of Life Sciences

Michael Smith Building

University of Manchester

Oxford Road

MANCHESTER  M20 4BX

Tel:     +44 (0) 161 275 6954

email:  simon.r.tew@Manchester.ac.uk

My research interests are in the regulation of the articular chondrocyte phenotype. These specialised connective tissue cells are able to synthesise an extracellular matrix which constitutes the articular cartilage that covers the end of long bones. They are a excellent candidate cell source for cartilage tissue engineering procedures but are limited by the number of cells that can be harvested. By growing the cells in plastic dishes we are able to expand their number but at the expense of the loss of their specialised phenotype.

During my time at UKCTE I have examined how we can improve the re-expression of a cartilage matrix forming phenotype by the forced expression of the transcription factor SOX9 in these cells. This approach leads to vastly improved cartilage matrix synthesis under the appropriate culture conditions. Further work is underway examining new downstream targets of SOX9 transcriptional regulation as well as elucidating mechanisms that control endogenous SOX9 expression.