Photo of Sun-Kyeong Lee, Ph.D.

Sun-Kyeong Lee, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine, UConn Center on Aging
Academic Office Location:
Medicine
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-1835
Phone: 860-679-8177
Fax: 860-679-8891
Website(s):

Skeletal Biology and Regeneration Graduate Program
Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
BSKorea UniversityBiology
MSKorea UniversityPhysiology/Entomology
PhDUniversity of ConnecticutPhysiology

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterBone Biology

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Accepted for NIA Summer Institute on Aging Research
Mazess Research Grant AwardNational Osteoporosis Foundation
Annual Judge Award for outstanding Presentation The New England Endocrinology Conference
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Award
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational1999
Member-in-Training, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational19911998
American Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational19871996
Korean Entomological Society Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational19821985
Korean Zoological Society Professional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalNational19821985

1. Understanding the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in osteoclastogenesis. MIF plays an important role in systemic as well as local inflammatory and immune responses. However, the precise role of MIF in the regulation of normal and abnormal bone metabolism has not been fully defined. Specific studies ongoing in my lab include the examination if MIF acts through a putative receptor CD74 and coreceptor (CD44) in osteoclastogenesis and the role of MIF in osteoclast fusion process using MIF knockout, CD74 knockout and CD44 knockout mouse models. We are particularly interested in the role of MIF in osteoclast precursor population and differentiation including fusion process of multinucleated osteoclastogenesis.


2. Role of interleukin-7 (IL-7) in bone. IL-7 is a cytokine to be involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis, which primarily acts on the lymphoid cell (B and T lymphocytes) compartment of the immune system. We are examining the local effect of IL-7 in osteoclastogenesis as well as bone mass using targeted overexpression of IL-7 in osteoblasts. In addition using IL-7 knockout mouse model, we are developing the role of T or B cells in bone marrow compartment in osteoclastogenesis and how alteration in bone mass occurs in response to local IL-7 overexpression in IL-7 KO mice. We are also interested in examining the possible role of IL-7 in osteoblastogenesis in these mouse models.


3. Role of CD97 in osteoclastogenesis. CD97 is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) seven-span transmembrane (7TM) subfamily of adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Different from other membrane proteins of these subfamilies, CD97 possesses several EGF-like domains at the large N-terminal extracellular domain suggesting a potential function associated with adhesion. However, the presence of seven transmembrane domains with homology to GPCRs leads to the speculation that may also acts as cell surface receptor to transduce signals across the cell membrane. In mice CD97 is detected in most myeloid cells and variable portions of lymphocytes including T and B cells, and NK cells. Despite all data regarding the expression of CD97 in human and mice, the precise role of CD97 in the regulation of normal and abnormal bone metabolism has not been fully defined. We are interested in the possible role of CD97 and its interaction with its known ligand, CD55 in osteoclastogenesis.

Not accepting lab rotation students at this time

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

  • The role of sex steroids in the effects of immune system on bone
    Danka Grcevic, Natasa Kovacic,Sun-Kyeong Lee Osteoimmunology: Interaction of the immune and skeletal systems 2015 Oct;

Abstracts

  • Effect of exogenous and endogenous prostaglandin E2 on osteoclastogenesis in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line.
    Kaneko H, Lee S, Lorenzo JA, Toyama Y, Pilbeam CC, and Raisz LG. J Bone Miner Res 2004 Jan;19(S1)S409
  • Fluid shear stress induces RANKL expression in primary osteoblastic cells.
    Mehrotra M, Lee S-K, Saegusa M, Alander CB, Raisz LG, and Pilbeam CC. J Miner Res 2004 Jan;19(S1)S391
  • Prostaglandin E2 stimulation of osteoclast formation in hematopoietic cell cultures is mediated by a soluble T cell factor.
    Kaneko H, Ono K, Lee SK, Lorenzo JA, Toyama Y, Pilbeam CC, Raisz LG. J Bone Miner Res 2003 Jan;18(S2)S236
  • Effects of aging on the regulation of osteoclast formation in murine bone marrow cultures.
    Lee S, Tomita M, Pilbeam C, Lorenzo J. J Bone Miner Res 2000 Jan;15(S1)S237
  • Increased production of inflammatory mediators immed-iately after surgery by marrow stromal cell cultures from sham operated and ovariectomized mice.
    Lee SK, Pilbeam CC, Lorenzo JA. J Bone Min Res 1995 Jan;10(S1)S346

Editorials

Reviews