Eben G. Estell, PhD

Research Fellow

Education

BS: Biological Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME
MS: Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY
PhD: Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY

Postdoctoral Research: Dr. Estell’s research in the Rosen Lab focuses on the role of signaling between muscle and bone in bone formation, and the link between exercise and skeletal homeostasis. His current project investigates the effect of Irisin, a myokine produced from the proteolysis of the FNDC5 protein in skeletal muscle during exercise, in enhancing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, utilizing primary osteoclast cultures and gain and loss of function murine models.

Doctoral Research: Dr. Estell’s doctoral work focused on the role of mechanotransduction in homeostasis of the synovial joint and the pathophysiology of degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. His work demonstrated that resident cell types of the synovium are highly mechanosensitive to fluid-induced shear stress, and that pro-inflammatory conditions of the osteoarthritic environment enhance this sensitivity. Altered mechanosensitivity in pathological conditions may have important implications for how a cell’s response to physical stimulus directs their contribution to healthy joint homeostasis as well as disease progression.

Estell EG, Murphy LA, Gangi LR, Shah RP, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. Attachment of cartilage wear particles to the synovium negatively impacts friction properties. J Biomech. 2021 Aug 4;127:110668. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110668. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34399243.

Estell EG, Rosen CJ. Emerging insights into the comparative effectiveness of anabolic therapies for osteoporosis. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jan;17(1):31-46. doi: 10.1038/s41574-020-00426-5. Epub 2020 Nov 4.PMID: 33149262.

Estell EG, Le PT, Vegting Y, Kim H, Wrann C, Bouxsein ML, Nagano K, Baron R, Spiegelman BM, Rosen CJ. Irisin directly stimulates osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. Elife. 2020 Aug 11;9:e58172. doi: 10.7554/eLife.58172.PMID: 32780016.

Estell EG, Silverstein AM, Stefani RM, Lee AJ, Murphy LA, Shah RP, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. Cartilage Wear Particles Induce an Inflammatory Response Similar to Cytokines in Human Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes. J Orthop Res. 2019 Sep;37(9):1979-1987. doi: 10.1002/jor.24340. Epub 2019 May 17.PMID: 31062877.

Stefani RM, Halder SS, Estell EG, Lee AJ, Silverstein AM, Sobczak E, Chahine NO, Ateshian GA, Shah RP, Hung CT. A Functional Tissue-Engineered Synovium Model to Study Osteoarthritis Progression and Treatment. Tissue Eng Part A. 2019 Apr;25(7-8):538-553. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2018.0142. Epub 2018 Oct 31.PMID: 30203722.

Estell EG, Murphy LA, Silverstein AM, Tan AR, Shah R, Ateshian AG, Hung CT. “Fibroblast-like Synoviocyte Mechanosensitivity to Fluid Shear is Modulated by Interleukin-1α.” Journal of Biomechanics, 60: 91-99 (2017).

Estell EG, Silverstein AM, Stefani RM, Lee AJ, Murphy LA, Shah RP, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. “Cartilage Wear Particles Induce an Inflammatory Response Similar to Cytokines in Human Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.” Journal of Orthopaedic Research, accepted.

Estell EG, Murphy LA, Stefani RM, Shah RP, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. “Interleukin-1β Heightens Human Synoviocyte Mechanosensitivity to Fluid Shear by Modulating the Primary Cilia.” Journal of Orthopedic Research, manuscript in preparation.

Estell EG, Murphy LA, Durney KM, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. “Cartilage Wear Particles Modulate Synovium Tribology.” Journal of Biomechanics, manuscript in preparation.

Stefani RM, Halder SS, Estell EG, Lee AJ, Silverstein AM, Sobczak E, Chahine NO, Ateshian GA, Shah RP, Hung CT. “A Functional Tissue-Engineered Synovium Model to Study Osteoarthritis Progression and Treatment.” Tissue Engineering Part A: DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2018.0142 (2018).

Professional Memberships
Trainee Member, American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, 2019-Present