Smurf1 Knocked-Down, Mesenchymal Stem Cells and BMP-2 in an Electrospun System for Bone Regeneration

Paracrine activity of Smurf1-silenced mesenchymal stem cells enhances bone regeneration and reduces bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis (OP), characterized by reduced bone mass and mineral density, is a global metabolic disorder that severely impacts the quality of life in affected individuals. Although current pharmacological treatments are effective, their long-term use is often associated with adverse effects, highlighting the need for safer, more sustainable therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the pro-osteogenic and anti-resorptive potential of the secretome from Smurf1-silenced mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a promising cell-free therapy for bone regeneration.

METHODS

Conditioned media (CM) from Smurf1-silenced rat (rCM-Smur1) and human MSCs (hCM-Smurf1) was collected and analyzed. Pro-osteogenic potential was assessed by measuring in vitro mineralization in human and rat MSCs cultures. In vivo, studies were conducted using a rat ectopic bone formation model and a post-menopausal osteoporotic mouse model. Additionally, primary human osteoporotic MSCs were preconditioned with hCM-Smurf1, and their osteogenic capacity was compared to that induced by BMP2 treatment. Ex vivo, human bone explants were treated with hCM-Smurf1 to assess anti-resorptive effects. Proteomic analysis of the soluble and vesicular CM fractions identified key proteins involved in bone regeneration.

RESULTS

CM from Smurf1-silenced MSCs significantly enhanced mineralization in vitro and bone formation in vivo. Preconditioning human osteoporotic MSCs with hCM-Smurf1 significantly increases in vitro mineralization, with levels comparable to those achieved with BMP2 treatment. Additionally, in ex vivo human bone cultures, treatment with hCM-Smurf1 significantly reduced RANKL expression without affecting OPG levels, indicating an anti-resorptive effect. In vivo, CM from Smurf1-silenced MSCs significantly increased bone formation in a rat ectopic model, and its local administration reduced trabecular bone loss by 50% in a post-menopausal osteoporotic mouse model after a single administration within just four weeks. Proteomic analysis revealed both soluble and vesicular fractions of hCM-Smurf1 were enriched with proteins essential for ossification and extracellular matrix organization, enhancing osteogenic differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The Smurf1-silenced MSCs' secretome shows potent osteogenic and anti-resorptive effects, significantly enhancing bone formation and reducing bone loss. This study provides compelling evidence for the therapeutic potential of Smurf1-silenced MSC-derived secretome as a non-toxic and targeted treatment for osteoporosis. These findings warrant further in vivo studies and clinical trials to validate its therapeutic efficacy and safety.

NEDD4 family E3 ligases in osteoporosis: mechanisms and emerging potential therapeutic targets

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone density and an increased risk of fractures, particularly prevalent in the aging population. Osteoporotic complications, including vertebral compression fractures, hip fractures, and distal forearm fractures, affect over 8.9 million individuals globally, placing a significant economic strain on healthcare systems. Recent advances have expanded our understanding of the mechanisms underlying osteoporosis, particularly the intricate regulatory networks involved in bone metabolism. A central player in these processes is ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation, a crucial post-translational modification system that involves ubiquitin, the ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), ubiquitin ligase (E3), deubiquitinating enzymes, and the proteasome. Among the various E3 ligases, the NEDD4 family has emerged as a key regulator of both bone development and osteoporotic pathology. This review delineates the role of NEDD4 family in osteoporosis and identifies potential drug targets within these pathways, offering insights into novel therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis through targeted intervention.

Bone Tissue Engineering and Nanotechnology: A Promising Combination for Bone Regeneration

Large bone defects are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, affecting approximately 1.71 billion people. Conventional bone graft treatments show several disadvantages that negatively impact their therapeutic outcomes and limit their clinical practice. Therefore, much effort has been made to devise new and more effective approaches. In this context, bone tissue engineering (BTE), involving the use of biomaterials which are able to mimic the natural architecture of bone, has emerged as a key strategy for the regeneration of large defects. However, although different types of biomaterials for bone regeneration have been developed and investigated, to date, none of them has been able to completely fulfill the requirements of an ideal implantable material. In this context, in recent years, the field of nanotechnology and the application of nanomaterials to regenerative medicine have gained significant attention from researchers. Nanotechnology has revolutionized the BTE field due to the possibility of generating nanoengineered particles that are able to overcome the current limitations in regenerative strategies, including reduced cell proliferation and differentiation, the inadequate mechanical strength of biomaterials, and poor production of extrinsic factors which are necessary for efficient osteogenesis. In this review, we report on the latest in vitro and in vivo studies on the impact of nanotechnology in the field of BTE, focusing on the effects of nanoparticles on the properties of cells and the use of biomaterials for bone regeneration.

NEDD4 E3 Ligases: Functions and Mechanisms in Bone and Tooth

Protein ubiquitination is a precisely controlled enzymatic cascade reaction belonging to the post-translational modification of proteins. In this process, E3 ligases catalyze the binding of ubiquitin (Ub) to protein substrates and define specificity. The neuronally expressed developmentally down-regulated 4 (NEDD4) subfamily, belonging to the homology to E6APC terminus (HECT) class of E3 ligases, has recently emerged as an essential determinant of multiple cellular processes in different tissues, including bone and tooth. Here, we place special emphasis on the regulatory role of the NEDD4 subfamily in the molecular and cell biology of osteogenesis. We elucidate in detail the specific roles, downstream substrates, and upstream regulatory mechanisms of the NEDD4 subfamily. Further, we provide an overview of the involvement of E3 ligases and deubiquitinases in the development, repair, and regeneration of another mineralized tissue—tooth.

A Multidisciplinary Journey towards Bone Tissue Engineering

Millions of patients suffer yearly from bone fractures and disorders such as osteoporosis or cancer, which constitute the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disabilities. The intrinsic capacity of bone to repair the damaged bone allows normal healing of most small bone injuries. However, larger bone defects or more complex diseases require additional stimulation to fully heal. In this context, the traditional routes to address bone disorders present several associated drawbacks concerning their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Thus, alternative therapies become necessary to overcome these limitations. In recent decades, bone tissue engineering has emerged as a promising interdisciplinary strategy to mimic environments specifically designed to facilitate bone tissue regeneration. Approaches developed to date aim at three essential factors: osteoconductive scaffolds, osteoinduction through growth factors, and cells with osteogenic capability. This review addresses the biological basis of bone and its remodeling process, providing an overview of the bone tissue engineering strategies developed to date and describing the mechanisms that underlie cell-biomaterial interactions.

Effective Osteogenic Priming of Mesenchymal Stem Cells through LNA-ASOs-Mediated Sfrp1 Gene Silencing

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has emerged as a promising approach for bone regeneration. Importantly, the beneficial effects of MSCs can be improved by modulating the expression levels of specific genes to stimulate MSC osteogenic differentiation. We have previously shown that Smurf1 silencing by using Locked Nucleic Acid-Antisense Oligonucleotides, in combination with a scaffold that sustainably releases low doses of BMP-2, was able to increase the osteogenic potential of MSCs in the presence of BMP-2 doses significantly smaller than those currently used in the clinic. This would potentially allow an important reduction in this protein in MSs-based treatments, and thus of the side effects linked to its administration. We have further improved this system by specifically targeting the Wnt pathway modulator Sfrp1. This approach not only increases MSC bone regeneration efficiency, but is also able to induce osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic human MSCs, bypassing the need for BMP-2 induction, underscoring the regenerative potential of this system. Achieving successful osteogenesis with the sole use of LNA-ASOs, without the need of administering pro-osteogenic factors such as BMP-2, would not only reduce the cost of treatments, but would also open the possibility of targeting these LNA-ASOs specifically to MSCs in the bone marrow, allowing us to treat systemic bone loss such as that associated with osteoporosis.

The Bone Regeneration Capacity of BMP-2 + MMP-10 Loaded Scaffolds Depends on the Tissue Status

Biomaterials-mediated bone formation in osteoporosis (OP) is challenging as it requires tissue growth promotion and adequate mineralization. Based on our previous findings, the development of scaffolds combining bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP-10) shows promise for OP management. To test our hypothesis, scaffolds containing BMP-2 + MMP-10 at variable ratios or BMP-2 + Alendronate (ALD) were prepared. Systems were characterized and tested in vitro on healthy and OP mesenchymal stem cells and in vivo bone formation was studied on healthy and OP animals. Therapeutic molecules were efficiently encapsulated into PLGA microspheres and embedded into chitosan foams. The use of PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) microspheres as therapeutic molecule reservoirs allowed them to achieve an in vitro and in vivo controlled release. A beneficial effect on the alkaline phosphatase activity of non-OP cells was observed for both combinations when compared with BMP-2 alone. This effect was not detected on OP cells where all treatments promoted a similar increase in ALP activity compared with control. The in vivo results indicated a positive effect of the BMP-2 + MMP-10 combination at both of the doses tested on tissue repair for OP mice while it had the opposite effect on non-OP animals. This fact can be explained by the scaffold’s slow-release rate and degradation that could be beneficial for delayed bone regeneration conditions but had the reverse effect on healthy animals. Therefore, the development of adequate scaffolds for bone regeneration requires consideration of the tissue catabolic/anabolic balance to obtain biomaterials with degradation/release behaviors suited for the existing tissue status.

Recent advances in PLGA-based biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration

Bone regeneration is an interdisciplinary complex lesson, including but not limited to materials science, biomechanics, immunology, and biology. Having witnessed impressive progress in the past decades in the development of bone substitutes; however, it must be said that the most suitable biomaterial for bone regeneration remains an area of intense debate. Since its discovery, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its good biocompatibility and adjustable biodegradability. This review systematically covers the past and the most recent advances in developing PLGA-based bone regeneration materials. Taking the different application forms of PLGA-based materials as the starting point, we describe each form's specific application and its corresponding advantages and disadvantages with many examples. We focus on the progress of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds, three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds, microspheres/nanoparticles, hydrogels, multiphasic scaffolds, and stents prepared by other traditional and emerging methods. Finally, we briefly discuss the current limitations and future directions of PLGA-based bone repair materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: As a key synthetic biopolymer in bone tissue engineering application, the progress of PLGA-based bone substitute is impressive. In this review, we summarized the past and the most recent advances in the development of PLGA-based bone regeneration materials. According to the typical application forms and corresponding crafts of PLGA-based substitutes, we described the development of electrospinning nanofibrous scaffolds, 3D printed scaffolds, microspheres/nanoparticles, hydrogels, multiphasic scaffolds and scaffolds fabricated by other manufacturing process. Finally, we briefly discussed the current limitations and proposed the newly strategy for the design and fabrication of PLGA-based bone materials or devices.

A Biomimetic Macroporous Hybrid Scaffold with Sustained Drug Delivery for Enhanced Bone Regeneration

Bone regeneration is a highly complex physiological process regulated by several factors. In particular, bone-mimicking extracellular matrix and available osteogenic growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) have been regarded as key contributors for bone regeneration. In this study, we developed a biomimetic hybrid scaffold (CEGH) with sustained release of BMP-2 that would result in enhanced bone formation. This hybrid scaffold, composed of BMP-2-loaded cryoelectrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (CE) surrounded by a macroporous gelatin/heparin cryogel (GH), is designed to overcome the drawbacks of the relatively weak mechanical properties of cryogels and poor biocompatibility and hydrophobicity of electrospun PCL. The GH component of the hybrid scaffold provides a hydrophilic surface to improve the biological response of the cells, while the CE component increases the mechanical strength of the scaffold to provide enhanced mechanical support for the defect area and a stable environment for osteogenic differentiation. After analyzing characteristics of the hybrid scaffold such as hydrophilicity, pore difference, mechanical properties, and surface charge, we confirmed that the hybrid scaffold shows enhanced cell proliferation rate and apatite formation in simulated body fluid. Then, we evaluated drug release kinetics of CEGH and confirmed the sustained release of BMP-2. Finally, the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of CEGH with sustained release of BMP-2 was confirmed by Alizarin Red S staining and real-time PCR analysis.

Smurf1 Silencing Using a LNA-ASOs/Lipid Nanoparticle System to Promote Bone Regeneration

Despite the great advance of bone tissue engineering in the last few years, repair of bone defects remains a major problem. Low cell engraftment and dose‐dependent side effects linked to the concomitant administration of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are the main problems currently hindering the clinical use of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)‐based therapies in this field. We have managed to bypass these drawbacks by combining the silencing the Smurf1 ubiquitin ligase in MSCs with the use of a scaffold that sustainably releases low doses of BMP‐2. In this system, Smurf1 silencing is achieved by using GapmeRs, a clinically safe method that avoids the use of viral vectors, facilitating its translation to the clinic. Here, we show that a single transient transfection with a small quantity of a Smurf1‐specific GapmeR is able to induce a significant level of silencing of the target gene, enough to prime MSCs for osteogenic differentiation. Smurf1 silencing highly increases MSCs responsiveness to BMP‐2, allowing a dramatic reduction of the dose needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. The combination of these primed cells with alginate scaffolds designed to sustainably and locally release low doses of BMP‐2 to the defect microenvironment is able to induce the formation of a mature bone matrix both in an osteoporotic rat calvaria system and in a mouse ectopic model. Importantly, this approach also enhances osteogenic differentiation in MSCs from osteoporotic patients, characterized by a reduced bone‐forming potential, even at low BMP doses, underscoring the regenerative potential of this system. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:1306&1317

The BMP‐Smad signaling cascade is an effective therapeutic target to promote bone formation. Silencing of Smurf1, a known BMP signaling inhibitor, increases the responsiveness of Mesenchymal stem cells to BMP, allowing a dramatic reduction of the doses used in the clinic to promote bone formation and therefore, avoiding secondary effects associated to the use of these factors.

Biomaterials for the Delivery of Growth Factors and Other Therapeutic Agents in Tissue Engineering Approaches to Bone Regeneration

Bone fracture followed by delayed or non-union typically requires bone graft intervention. Autologous bone grafts remain the clinical "gold standard". Recently, synthetic bone grafts such as Medtronic's Infuse Bone Graft have opened the possibility to pharmacological and tissue engineering strategies to bone repair following fracture. This clinically-available strategy uses an absorbable collagen sponge as a carrier material for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) and a similar strategy has been employed by Stryker with BMP-7, also known as osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1). A key advantage to this approach is its "off-the-shelf" nature, but there are clear drawbacks to these products such as edema, inflammation, and ectopic bone growth. While there are clinical challenges associated with a lack of controlled release of rhBMP-2 and OP-1, these are among the first clinical examples to wed understanding of biological principles with biochemical production of proteins and pharmacological principles to promote tissue regeneration (known as regenerative pharmacology). After considering the clinical challenges with such synthetic bone grafts, this review considers the various biomaterial carriers under investigation to promote bone regeneration. This is followed by a survey of the literature where various pharmacological approaches and molecular targets are considered as future strategies to promote more rapid and mature bone regeneration. From the review, it should be clear that pharmacological understanding is a key aspect to developing these strategies.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a bMSC and BMP-2 polymeric trilayer system in cartilage repair

In this study a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA) tri-layer scaffold is proposed for cartilage repair. The trilayer system consists of a base layer formed by a tablet of PLGA microspheres, a second layer composed of a microsphere suspension placed on top of the tablet, and the third layer, which constitutes an external electrospun PLGA thin polymeric membrane. Combinations of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) encapsulated in the microspheres of the suspension layer, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSC) seeded on the electrospun membrane, are evaluated by histologic analyses and immunohistochemistry in a critical size osteochondral defect in rabbits. Five experimental groups, including a control group (empty defect), a blank group (blank scaffold), a bMSC treated group, two groups treated with 2.5 μg or 8.5 μg of BMP-2 and another two groups implanted with bMSC-BMP-2 combination are evaluated. The repair area increases throughout the experimental time (24 weeks). The repair observed in the treated groups is statistically higher than in control and blank groups. However, the bMSC-BMP-2 combination does not enhance the BMP-2 response. In conclusion, BMP-2 and bMSC repaired effectively the osteochondral defect in the rabbits. The bMSC-BMP-2 combination did not produce synergism.

Bone Regeneration from PLGA Micro-Nanoparticles

Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is one of the most widely used synthetic polymers for development of delivery systems for drugs and therapeutic biomolecules and as component of tissue engineering applications. Its properties and versatility allow it to be a reference polymer in manufacturing of nano- and microparticles to encapsulate and deliver a wide variety of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. It additionally facilitates and extends its use to encapsulate biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids that can be released in a controlled way. This review focuses on the use of nano/microparticles of PLGA as a delivery system of one of the most commonly used growth factors in bone tissue engineering, the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). Thus, all the needed requirements to reach a controlled delivery of BMP2 using PLGA particles as a main component have been examined. The problems and solutions for the adequate development of this system with a great potential in cell differentiation and proliferation processes under a bone regenerative point of view are discussed.

Bone critical defect repair with poloxamine-cyclodextrin supramolecular gels

The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteoinductive capacity of a poloxamine (Tetronic(®) 908, T) and α-cyclodextrin (αCD) supramolecular gel (T-CD) as scaffold in a critical size defect in rat calvaria. The T-CD gel was evaluated solely and after being loaded with simvastatin (SV) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) separately and in combinations in order to reduce the doses of the active substances. Three doses of SV (7.5, 75, 750 μg) and two doses of BMP-2 (3 and 6 μg) were tested. The histology and histomorphometrical analysis showed improved bone repair with T-CD compared to T, probably due to better release control of both SV and BMP-2. In addition, as T-CD eroded more slowly than poloxamine alone, it remained longer in the defect site. Although synergism was not obtained with BMP-2 and SV, according to the observed regeneration of the defect, the dose of BMP-2 and SV can be reduced to 3 μg and 7.5 μg, respectively.

Biomimetic approaches in bone tissue engineering: Integrating biological and physicomechanical strategies

The development of responsive biomaterials capable of demonstrating modulated function in response to dynamic physiological and mechanical changes in vivo remains an important challenge in bone tissue engineering. To achieve long-term repair and good clinical outcomes, biologically responsive approaches that focus on repair and reconstitution of tissue structure and function through drug release, receptor recognition, environmental responsiveness and tuned biodegradability are required. Traditional orthopedic materials lack biomimicry, and mismatches in tissue morphology, or chemical and mechanical properties ultimately accelerate device failure. Multiple stimuli have been proposed as principal contributors or mediators of cell activity and bone tissue formation, including physical (substrate topography, stiffness, shear stress and electrical forces) and biochemical factors (growth factors, genes or proteins). However, optimal solutions to bone regeneration remain elusive. This review will focus on biological and physicomechanical considerations currently being explored in bone tissue engineering.