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Review
. 2013 Oct 26;5(4):136-48.
doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v5.i4.136.

Molecular mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards osteoblasts

Maya Fakhry  1 , Eva Hamade, Bassam Badran, René Buchet, David Magne
Affiliations
Review

Molecular mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards osteoblasts

Maya Fakhry et al. World J Stem Cells. .

Abstract

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is constantly renewed by the coordinated action of two cell types, i.e., the bone-resorbing osteoclasts and the bone-forming osteoblasts. However, in some circumstances, bone regeneration exceeds bone self repair capacities. This is notably often the case after bone fractures, osteolytic bone tumor surgery, or osteonecrosis. In this regard, bone tissue engineering with autologous or allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is been widely developed. MSCs can be isolated from bone marrow or other tissues such as adipose tissue or umbilical cord, and can be implanted in bone defects with or without prior amplification and stimulation. However, the outcome of most pre-clinical studies remains relatively disappointing. A better understanding of the successive steps and molecular mechanisms involved in MSC-osteoblastic differentiation appears to be crucial to optimize MSC-bone therapy. In this review, we first present the important growth factors that stimulate osteoblastogenesis. Then we review the main transcription factors that modulate osteoblast differentiation, and the microRNAs (miRs) that inhibit their expression. Finally, we also discuss articles dealing with the use of these factors and miRs in the development of new bone MSC therapy strategies. We particularly focus on the studies using human MSCs, since significant differences exist between osteoblast differentiation mechanisms in humans and mice for instance.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; MicroRNAs; Osteogenesis; Runt-related 2; Wnt.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
transcription factors involved in osteoblast differentiation form mesenchymal stem cells. Markers of differentiation are shown in black, stimulatory transcription factors in green, and inhibitory ones in red. MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; ATF4: Activating transcription factor 4; C/EBP: CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins; Coll: Collagen; DMP-1: Dentin matrix protein-1; Ob: Osteoblast; Osx: Osterix; PPAR: Peroxysome proliferator activated receptor; SATB2: Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 2; TAZ: Transcription coactivator with binding capacity to PDZ motifs; TNAP: Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase; Runx2: Runt-related 2.
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