Life Science and Technology News

Elucidation of bone regeneration mechanism

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November 8, 2017

Fish have the extraordinary ability to regenerate lost fins and other appendages containing cartilage and bone. The cells responsible for the regeneration offer new clues on how to regenerate tissues in humans. Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have found a dormant progenitor cell population in zebrafish that regenerates bone cells, or osteoblasts. The study can be read in Developmental Cell.

How osteoblasts are supplied during bone regeneration has been controversial among bone researchers. According to Atsushi Kawakami, an Associate Professor who specializes in tissue regeneration and led the study, scientists disagree on how these cells are made.

The new study uses genetically engineered transgenic zebrafish to show that a population of progenitor cells marked by high expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9, an enzyme that catabolizes collagens, provides osteoblasts during regeneration (Figure 1; Figure 2). Kazunori Ando, a graduate student who conducted the experiments, calls these cells osteoblast progenitor cells (OPCs). Consistently, eliminating OPCs prior to tissue injury significantly impaired bone regeneration. Overall, the study shows that OPCs are essential for bone regeneration.

Visualized OPCs in niches using transgenic zebrafish

Figure 1. Visualized OPCs in niches using transgenic zebrafish

OPC in the niche of fin joint

Figure 2. OPC in the niche of fin joint

OPCs marked in green, osteocyte-lineage marker, Zns5, in red, and cell nuclei in blue.
OPCs that are dormant in the niche have a unique shape with dendrites.

The researchers further investigated the developmental origin of OPCs and found that OPCs are derived from embryonic somites and reserved in niches of bone-forming tissues in adult animal as the source of osteoblasts. Embryonic somites produce osteoblasts during vertebrate development, but its relationship to adult osteoblasts was not known. The study revealed that OPCs derived from the somites are the dormant cells for later production of osteoblasts in adult animal.

In conclusion, the findings suggest that a lineage of bone-producing cell, which are specified in embryonic somites, are maintained throughout the animal lives as progenitor cells for bone regeneration and also for bone maintenance (Figure 3).

"We use animal models because they show us a number of essential cellular and molecular mechanisms behind our existence. Considering the higher bone regeneration potential in zebrafish, OPCs will be a potential target for enhancing bone regeneration in mammals" said Kawakami.

Summary of the study

Figure 3. Summary of the study

The study revealed that OPCs originate embryonic somites, develop through mesenchymal precursors to settle in niches of bone-forming tissues like the fish fin ray. OPCs are activated upon tissue injury and recruited to repair bones.

Reference

Authors:	Kazunori Ando¹, Eri Shibata¹, Stefan Hans², Michael Brand², Atsushi Kawakami^{1, *}
Title of original paper:	Osteoblast Production by Reserved Progenitor Cells in Zebrafish Bone Regeneration and Maintenance
Journal:	Developmental Cell
DOI :	10.1016/j.devcel.2017.10.015
Affiliations :	¹ School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology ² Developmental Genetics, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden

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Further information

Associate Professor Atsushi Kawakami
School of Life Science and Technology,
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Email atkawaka@bio.titech.ac.jp
Tel +81-45-924-5717