ZMB Member Andrea Vortkamp

ZMB Member
Andrea Vortkamp

Next ZMB-Member
portrait photo of ZMB member Andrea Vortkamp

Prof. Dr. Andrea Vortkamp

Group

Developmental Biology

Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB)
Faculty of Biology
University of Duisburg-Essen
Universitätsstr. 2
45141 Essen

Research Overview

Genetically induced skeletal malformations and degenerating bone diseases, like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, represent major challenges of modern medicine. Both can result in severe pain, mobility restrictions and significantly impair the quality of human life. To identify the molecular basis of skeletal disorders and to pave the way for the development of targeted repair strategies we are investigating the mechanisms that regulate differentiation and growth of the skeletal elements during embryonic development and postnatal life. We are concentrating our research on the differentiation of chondrocytes in the growth plate of endochondral bones, the formation of bone tumors and the development and maintenance of the articular cartilage in the joints.

  • Signaling factors regulating chondrocyte differentiation
  • Gene regulation and Chromatin modification
  • Heparan sulfate: an extracellular regulator of growth factor signaling and cellular interactions
  • Degenerating Joint Diseases: Osteoarthrosis

Selected Publications

    Journal articles

  • Wülling, Manuela; Neu, Christoph; Thiesen, Andrea M.; Kitanovski, Simo; Cao, Yingying; Lange, Anja; Westendorf, Astrid; Hoffmann, Daniel; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Epigenetic mechanisms mediating cell state transitions in chondrocytes
    In: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) Vol. 36 (2021) Nr. 5, pp. 968 - 985
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Bachvarova, Velina; Dierker, Tabea; Esko, Jeffrey; Hoffmann, Daniel; Kjellen, Lena; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Chondrocytes respond to an altered heparan sulfate composition with distinct changes of heparan sulfate structure and increased levels of chondroitin sulfate
    In: Matrix Biology Vol. 39 (2020) pp. 43 - 59
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Grüneboom, Anika; Hawwari, Ibrahim; Weidner, Daniela; Culemann, Stephan; Müller, Sylvia; Henneberg, Sophie; Brenzel, Alexandra; Merz, Simon; Bornemann, Lea; Zec, Kristina; Wülling, Manuela; Kling, Lasse; Hasenberg, Mike; Voortmann, Sylvia; Lang, Stefanie; Baum, Wolfgang; Ohs, Alexandra; Kraff, Oliver; Quick, Harald H.; Jäger, Marcus; Landgraeber, Stefan; Dudda, Marcel; Danuser, Renzo; Stein, Jens V.; Rohde, Manfred; Gelse, Kolja; Garbe, Annette I.; Adamczyk, Alexandra; Westendorf, Astrid; Hoffmann, Daniel; Christiansen, Silke; Engel, Daniel Robert; Vortkamp, Andrea; Krönke, Gerhard; Herrmann, Martin; Kamradt, Thomas; Schett, Georg; Hasenberg, Anja; Gunzer, Matthias
    A network of trans-cortical capillaries as mainstay for blood circulation in long bones
    In: Nature Metabolism Vol. 1 (2019) Nr. 2, pp. 236 - 250
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ Online Full Text (Open Access)
  • Wülling, Manuela; Vortkamp, Andrea
    A newly discovered stem cell that keeps bones growing
    In: Nature Vol. 567 (2019) Nr. 7747, pp. 178 - 179
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Dierker, Tabea; Bachvarova, Velina; Krause, Yvonne Stefanie; Li, Jin-Ping; Kjellén, Lena; Seidler, Daniela G.; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Altered heparan sulfate structure in Glce-/- mice leads to increased Hedgehog signaling in endochondral bones
    In: Matrix Biology Vol. 49 (2016) pp. 82 - 92
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Jochmann, Katja; Bachvarova, Velina; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Heparan sulfate as a regulator of endochondral ossification and osteochondroma development
    In: Matrix Biology Vol. 34 (2014) pp. 55 - 63
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Jochmann, Katja; Bachvarova, Velina; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Reprint of: Heparan sulfate as a regulator of endochondral ossification and osteochondroma development
    In: Matrix Biology Vol. 35 (2014) pp. 239 - 247
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Ehlen, Harald W. A.; Chinenkova, Milana; Moser, Markus; Munter, Hans-Markus; Krause, Yvonne Stefanie; Gross, Stefanie; Brachvogel, Bent; Wülling, Manuela; Kornak, Uwe; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Inactivation of anoctamin-6/Tmem16f, a regulator of phosphatidylserine scrambling in osteoblasts, leads to decreased mineral deposition in skeletal tissues
    In: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) Vol. 28 (2013) Nr. 2, pp. 246 - 259
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Tagariello, A.; Luther, J.; Streiter, M.; Didt-Koziel, L.; Wülling, Manuela; Surmann-Schmitt, C.; Stock, M.; Adam, N.; Vortkamp, Andrea; Winterpacht, A.
    Ucma - A novel secreted factor represents a highly specific marker for distal chondrocytes
    In: Matrix Biology Vol. 27 (2008) Nr. 1, pp. 3 - 11
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/
  • Didt-Koziel, L.; Kunath, M.; McMahon, A.P.; Kelly, O.g.; Vortkamp, Andrea
    Ext1 dependent heparan sulfates regulate the range of Ihh signaling during endochondral ossification
    In: Developmental Cell Vol. 6 (2004) pp. 801 - 813
    Online Full Text: dx.doi.org/ (Open Access)
  • Tavella, S.; Biticchi, R.; Schito, A.; Minina, E.; Di Martino, D.; Pagano, A.; Vortkamp, Andrea; Horton, W.A.; Cancedda, R.; Garofalo, S.
    Targeted expression of SHH affects chondrocyte differentiation, growth plate organization, and Sox9 expression
    In: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) Vol. 19 (2004) pp. 1678 - 1688
  • Lanske, B.; Karaplis, A.C.; Lee, K.; Luz, A.; Vortkamp, A.; Pirro, A.; Karperien, M.; Defize, L.H.K.; Ho, C.; Mulligan, R.C.; Abou-Samra, A.B.; Juppner, H.; Segre, G.V.; Kronenberg, H.M.
    PTH/PTHrP receptor in early development and Indian hedgehog-regulated bone growth.
    In: Science Vol. 273 (1996) pp. 663 - 666
  • Vortkamp, A.; Lee, K.; Lanske, B.; Segre, G.V.; Kronenberg, H.M.; Tabin, C.j.
    Regulation of rate of cartilage differentiation by Indian hedgehog and PTH-related protein.
    In: Science Vol. 273 (1996) pp. 613 - 622
  • Vortkamp, Andrea; Gessler, Manfred; Grzeschik, Karl-Heinz
    GLI3 zinc-finger gene interrupted by translocations in Greig syndrome families.
    In: Nature Vol. 352 (1991) Nr. 8. August, pp. 535 - 540
    Online Full Text