Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Muhamed Lahtif Nor Muhamad, Sophia Ogechi Ekeuku, Sok-Kuan Wong, Kok-Yong Chin
Summary: This systematic review presents the available evidence on the skeletal protective effects of naringenin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits and grapefruit. The findings suggest that naringenin enhances bone formation and inhibits bone resorption through various signaling pathways, making it a potential dietary intervention for preventing bone loss.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gemma Marcucci, Vladana Domazetovic, Chiara Nediani, Jessica Ruzzolini, Claudio Favre, Maria Luisa Brandi
Summary: This review provides a detailed report on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in bone remodeling, specifically in relation to oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and estrogen deficiency. Oxidative stress is a key factor in the development of osteoporosis, leading to osteocyte apoptosis and impaired bone remodeling and resorption. Recent studies have shown that natural antioxidants found in the diet can effectively prevent and reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress on bone health. These antioxidants target osteocytes and their molecular factors, promoting bone regeneration and preventing bone loss. This suggests that incorporating antioxidants into therapeutic approaches may improve the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and related bone diseases.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Beth S. Lee, Cynthia Murray, Jie Liu, Minji Kim, Min Sik Hwang, Tina Yueh, Myrna Mansour, Sana Qamar, Gunjan Agarwal, Do-Gyoon Kim
Summary: The results of the experiments show that MYO9B plays a crucial role in the mechanical stress-induced responses of bone cells in vitro and in vivo.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shota Inoue, Changxin Li, Junpei Hatakeyama, Hanlin Jiang, Hiroshi Kuroki, Hideki Moriyama
Summary: Higher-intensity ultrasound has been shown to effectively accelerate fracture healing in an osteoporotic fracture model. It promotes chondrogenesis and hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes, increases osteoblasts and newly formed bone, and accelerates endochondral ossification during fracture healing. The mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 mediates ultrasound-stimulated fracture healing and bone formation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesus Delgado-Calle, Kevin McAndrews, Gerald Wu, Ashley L. Orr, Adam Ferrari, Xiaolin Tu, Venkatesan Srinivasan, G. David Roodman, Frank H. Ebetino, Robert K. Boeckman, Teresita Bellido
Summary: This study reveals that PTH signaling upregulates Notch pathway components, and Notch activation contributes to the catabolic actions of PTH in bone. Deleting the PTH receptor or overexpressing sclerostin in osteocytes abolishes the increase in Notch components caused by PTH. Moreover, bone-targeted Notch inhibition enhances the bone anabolic effects of intermittent PTH.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Abdullah Abood, Larry Mesner, Will Rosenow, Basel M. Al-Barghouthi, Nina Horowitz, Elise F. Morgan, Louis C. Gerstenfeld, Charles R. Farber
Summary: This study combines allelic imbalance (AI) analysis, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) colocalization analysis to identify lncRNAs potentially responsible for genetic regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). The study identifies 58 lncRNAs located in 43 BMD associations and suggests that lncRNAs play a role in the genetics of osteoporosis.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Rafiou Agoro, Intawat Nookaew, Megan L. Noonan, Yamil G. Marambio, Sheng Liu, Wennan Chang, Hongyu Gao, Lainey M. Hibbard, Corinne E. Metzger, Daniel Horan, William R. Thompson, Xiaoling Xuei, Yunlong Liu, Chi Zhang, Alexander G. Robling, Lynda F. Bonewald, Jun Wan, Kenneth E. White
Summary: Due to limited resolution at the single cell level, the causes of bone dysfunction caused by various diseases remain unknown. This study used flow cytometry and scRNAseq to identify different populations of osteoblasts and osteocytes at the single cell level. The findings suggest unrealized molecular defects across multiple bone cell populations in a mouse model of CKD, indicating a potentially earlier and more broad bone pathology in this disease than previously recognized.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rene St-Arnaud, Martin Pellicelli, Mahmoud Ismail, Alice Arabian, Toghrul Jafarov, Chengji J. Zhou
Summary: PTH induces phosphorylation of NACA and LRP6, leading to their nuclear translocation and expression of the target gene Lrp6. Knockout of Naca and Lrp6 in mice abolishes the anabolic response to iPTH, indicating that NACA and LRP6 play important roles in ensuring maximal response to iPTH.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Eijiro Jimi, Hiroaki Honda, Ichiro Nakamura
Summary: p130Cas acts as an adapter protein and serves as a mechanosensor, playing important roles in cell functions and sensing mechanical stress. It is involved in bone formation, osteoclast function, and bone invasion by cancer cells. p130Cas may be a potential therapeutic target for bone diseases and cancer bone invasion.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Zhang, Tianlong Jiang, Shenghui Ni, Wenbo Liu, Peng Luo, Shimin Hao, Penghao Wang, Lei Guo
Summary: The experiment investigated the effects of estrogen on the proliferation and apoptosis of osteoblasts by regulating the GPER/AKT pathway. Results showed higher expression of GPER and p-AKT in the estrogen group compared to the control and inhibitor groups, as well as higher GPER mRNA expression. Estrogen was found to inhibit mitochondrial autophagy, reduce apoptosis, and promote cell proliferation in osteoblasts.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Y. Kitase, M. Prideaux
Summary: This article summarizes the main methods for studying the functions of bone cells, including gene knockout and cell tracing. However, there are concerns about the specificity of the promoters used and the off-target effects on cells within and outside of the bone. A thorough understanding of when and where these promoters are activated will improve the quality of study design and the confidence in data interpretation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Naomi Dirckx, Qian Zhang, Emily Y. Chu, Robert J. Tower, Zhu Li, Shenghao Guo, Shichen Yuan, Pratik A. Khare, Cissy Zhang, Angela Verardo, Lucy O. Alejandro, Angelina Park, Marie-Claude Faugere, Stephen L. Helfand, Martha J. Somerman, Ryan C. Riddle, Rafael de Cabo, Anne Le, Klaus Schmidt-Rohr, Thomas L. Clemens
Summary: Osteoblasts regulate citrate deposition into bone through a specialized metabolic pathway involving membrane and mitochondrial transporters, affecting bone strength.。
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongguang Gao, Suryaji Patil, Jingxian Jia
Summary: Osteoporosis is a major bone disorder affecting both men and women, primarily due to an imbalance in bone remodeling. Understanding the effects of molecules produced by different cells on bone can help identify new therapeutic targets and approaches for preventing and treating bone disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kamarulzaman Karim, Nelli Giribabu, Naguib Salleh
Summary: The study revealed that Marantodes pumilum leaf aqueous extract could protect the bone in estrogen-deficient, diabetic condition by ameliorating increased blood glucose levels and decreased bone collagen content.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shengfang Wang, Lan Xiao, Indira Prasadam, Ross Crawford, Yinghong Zhou, Yin Xiao
Summary: The study found that stimulation by M1 macrophages leads to the retention of osteocytes in an immature stage, characterized by a more rounded morphology, higher expression of early osteocyte marker E11, and significantly lower expression of mature osteocyte marker DMP1. Immature osteocytes were also observed in areas of inflammatory bone remodeling, exhibiting altered morphology and mineralized structures similar to those induced by M1 macrophages in vitro. The Notch signaling pathway was downregulated in M1-stimulated osteocytes and osteocytes in inflammatory bone, with overexpression of the pathway mitigating the negative effects of M1 macrophages.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Meenakshi Suku, Ashang Luwang Laiva, Fergal J. O'Brien, Michael B. Keogh
Summary: The study shows that pre-treatment with beta-klotho protein promotes inflammatory signal pruning, enhances the pro-angiogenic response of diabetic stem cells, and accelerates the cellular expression of matrix proteins, effectively speeding up the functional development of diabetic stem cells for wound healing applications.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Rheumatology
Tom Hodgkinson, Domhnall C. Kelly, Caroline M. Curtin, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: Mechanical stimuli play fundamental roles in cartilage health and osteoarthritis, with chondrocytes sensing their physical environment and activating complex signaling pathways to regulate OA pathology. Understanding specific mechanosignalling mechanisms in cartilage has therapeutic potential and can be combined with smart biomaterials and drug delivery systems for future OA treatment advancements.
NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Tom Hodgkinson, Isabel N. Amado, Fergal J. O'Brien, Oran D. Kennedy
Summary: This review discusses the multifaceted changes in the mechanobiological environment of skeletal joints and emphasizes the importance of tissue crosstalk in degenerative processes. The development of accurate and reproducible model systems for osteoarthritis research is essential. The review explores recent progress in understanding mechanosensory processes in healthy and osteoarthritic joints and the advancements in in vitro and ex vivo model systems.
APL BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Maria G. Fernandes, Lucilia P. da Silva, Mariana T. Cerqueira, Rita Ibanez, Ciara M. Murphy, Rui L. Reis, Fergal J. O. Brien, Alexandra P. Marques
Summary: Scarring is a significant clinical issue that impacts many patients, causing functional, aesthetic, psychological, and social difficulties. Research has shown that mechanical forces play a crucial role in skin tissue repair and scar formation. Understanding how engineered biomaterials can modify mechanical stimuli and mechanotransduction signals in wound environments can lead to the reduction of scar tissue.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
William A. Lackington, Dominic Gehweiler, Ensi Zhao, Ivan Zderic, Dirk Nehrbass, Stephan Zeiter, Arlyng Gonzalez-Vazquez, Fergal J. O'Brien, MartinJ. Stoddart, Keith Thompson
Summary: In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of a low dose of rhBMP-2 in a weight-bearing femoral fracture healing model was enhanced by the addition of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). The combination of IL-1Ra and rhBMP-2 resulted in significantly faster early bone formation and improved mechanical reliability compared to a low dose of rhBMP-2 alone. This study demonstrates the potential of IL-1Ra to enhance bone healing in combination with a low dose of rhBMP-2.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paige V. Hinton, Katelyn J. Genoud, James O. Early, Fergal J. O'Brien, Oran D. Kennedy
Summary: Bone cells, including osteoblasts and chondrocytes, communicate with each other through interstitial fluid movement and fluid flow shear stresses. This study developed an in vitro bone-cartilage crosstalk system to examine the effect of fluid flow shear stresses on these cell types. The findings show that primary cells exhibit a more reliable and reproducible response to shear stresses, and different levels of shear stresses have varying effects on bone formation and degradation. Additionally, osteoblast-derived factors can induce catabolic changes in chondrocytes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Matthew McGrath, Karolina Zimkowska, Katelyn J. Genoud, Jack Maughan, Javier Gutierrez Gonzalez, Shane Browne, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: A biomimetic, bilayered antimicrobial collagen-based scaffold was developed to deal with the etiology of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The scaffold exhibited high structural stability, successfully inhibited the growth and infiltration of Staphylococcus aureus, and supported the proliferation of epidermal cells and vascularization. These results suggest that the bilayered scaffold is a promising candidate for enhancing diabetic wound healing.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Claudio Intini, Lia Blokpoel Ferreras, Sarah Casey, James E. Dixon, John P. Gleeson, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: A novel miR-activated scaffold was developed to enhance mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) chondrogenesis and cartilage repair through the delivery of an inhibitor to miR-221. The miR-activated scaffold successfully transfected human MSCs with the miR-221 cargo, promoting an improved cell-mediated chondrogenic response. This innovative scaffold shows promise in improving chondrogenesis and enhancing cartilage defect repair.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Giuseppe A. Asaro, Matteo Solazzo, Meenakshi Suku, Dahnan Spurling, Katelyn Genoud, Javier Gutierrez Gonzalez, Fergal J. O' Brien, Valeria Nicolosi, Michael G. Monaghan
Summary: Electroconductive biohybrid platforms were created by blending collagen and 2D MXene, which showed high biocompatibility and enhanced cell proliferation and spreading. The platforms also limited bacterial attachment and proliferation. Culturing neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes on the substrates demonstrated increased cell growth and cx43 expression when stimulated with an external electric field. This in vitro study convincingly shows the potential of the engineered conductive biohybrid platform for cardiac tissue regeneration.
NPJ 2D MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Tara K. Mcguire, Martyna Stasiewicz, Ian Woods, Adrian G. Dervan, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: Spinal cord injury is a devastating traumatic injury that often results in permanent loss of function. Gene therapy using nonviral nanoparticle vectors has the potential to improve spinal cord regeneration by targeting multiple aspects of the injury and enhancing specificity. Despite challenges, nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery holds great promise for the future of spinal cord injury treatment.
ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Sorcha O'Meara, Eoghan M. Cunnane, Stefanie M. Croghan, Connor V. Cunnane, Michael T. Walsh, Fergal J. O'Brien, Niall F. Davis
Summary: The ureter is a complex structure with varying mechanical properties and morphology along its anatomical length. Understanding the mechanical forces and properties of the ureter is important for surgical outcomes and urine transport. Further studies on human ureteric tissue are needed to better understand these properties and the influence of forces on them.
NATURE REVIEWS UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Francesco Santarella, Ronaldo Jose Farias Correa do Amaral, Mark Lemoine, Domhnall Kelly, Brenton Cavanagh, Milica Marinkovic, Avi Smith, Jonathan Garlick, Fergal J. O'Brien, Cathal J. Kearney
Summary: For the first time, a method for treating DFUs is demonstrated using cells from biopsied DFU patients, reprogramming those cells, and functionalizing the scaffold with patient-specific ECM. The personalized acellular tissue-engineered scaffold enhances ECM deposition and vascularization, showing promising results for DFU healing.
ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Claudio Intini, Tom Hodgkinson, Sarah M. Casey, John P. Gleeson, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: CI/II-HyA scaffolds were able to enhance and prolong cartilage repair while reducing hypertrophic cartilage formation, as evidenced by improved cartilage-like formation and consistent responses in protein expression analysis. The study also highlighted the variable chondrogenic abilities of human MSCs from different donors.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Donagh G. O'Shea, Caroline M. Curtin, Fergal J. O'Brien
Summary: Articular cartilage in the human body plays a vital role in facilitating frictionless movement of synovial joints. However, its avascular and aneural nature limits its ability to self-repair when damaged. Current surgical treatment options lead to the formation of non-durable tissue, necessitating the need for a new solution. Recent advances in tissue engineering have aimed to recreate the microenvironment of native articular cartilage using biomaterial scaffolds, but the complexity of native tissue has proven to be a challenge. The advent of 3D printing has provided a potential solution by allowing the fabrication of biomimetic scaffolds that mimic the architecture and composition of articular cartilage.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robert T. Brady, Fergal J. O'Brien, David A. Hoey
Summary: Bone is a dynamic organ that can adapt its structure through the release of soluble factors by osteocytes. The study investigated the role of composition and dimensionality in directing Sost expression in MLO-Y4 cells and found that culture in hydroxyapatite-containing collagen scaffolds enhanced Sost expression compared to traditional in vitro culture. The study also showed that the novel culture system responded to fluid flow stimulation. Overall, this study presents a novel culture system for the MLO-Y4 osteocyte cell line and provides valuable insights into Sost expression in bone cells.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)