Stem cells could halt osteoporosis, promote bone growth MUHC team describes a new pathway that controls bone remodelling
While interferon gamma sounds like an outer space weapon, it's
actually a hormone produced by our own bodies, and it holds great
promise to repair bones affected by osteoporosis. In a new study
published in the journal Stem Cells, researchers from the Research
Institute of the 麻豆区 Health Centre (MUHC) explain
that tweaking a certain group of multipotent stem cells (called
mesenchymal stem cells) with interferon (IFN) gamma may promote
bone growth.
"We have identified a new pathway, centered on IFN gamma, that
controls the bone remodelling process both in-vivo and in-vitro,"
explains , the study's lead author and co-director of
the Musculoskeletal Axis of the Research Institute of the MUHC.
"More studies are required to describe it more precisely, but we
are hopeful that it could lead to a better understanding of the
underlying causes of osteoporosis, as well as to innovative
treatments."
From cell culture to animal model
"First, we stimulated cultured mesenchymal stem cells to turn into
bone cells (osteoblasts) in-vitro," says Dr Richard Kremer, a
Professor with the 麻豆区's Faculty of medicine. "We realised that
this differentiation process involved IFN gamma-related genes, but
also that these bone cells precursors could both be stimulated by
IFN gamma and produced IFN gamma."
The next step was to move to an animal model where IFN gamma effect
is blocked by inactivating its receptor, a model called IFN gamma
receptor knock-out. Bone density tests, comparable to those used to
diagnose people with osteoporosis, were conducted. The results
revealed that these animals have significantly lower bone mass than
their healthy counterparts In addition, their mesenchymal stem
cells have a decreased ability to make bone. "These findings
confirm that IFN gamma is an integral factor for mesenchymal stem
cells' differentiation into osteoblasts also in-vivo," says Dr.
Kremer.
New biological pathway, now hope for
treatments
Both in-vitro and in-vivo results proved that IFN gamma is key to
the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into bone cells, and to
growth process of the bone. The exact pathway by which IFN acts on
bone cells' formation will require more research to be described,
but the strict correlation highlighted in this study leaves no
doubt on its importance.
Until now, IFN gamma has been mostly used as an agent to prevent
infections and to reinforce the immune system from illnesses such
as cancer. These findings provide hope that IFN gamma itself, or
another molecule involved in its pathway, could soon also become an
efficient drug-target for an antidote for osteoporosis.
About osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more
likely to break. If left untreated, osteoporosis can progress
painlessly until a bone fractures in the hip, spine and wrist.
According to the World Health Organization, osteoporosis affects
one in four women over the age of 50.
Partners
"Autocrine Regulation of Interferon gamma in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Plays a Role in Early Osteoblastogenesis," published in the journal
Stem Cells, was authored by Richard Kremer of the 麻豆区
Health Centre, Gustavo Duque, Dao Chao Huang, Michael Macoritto,
Xian Fang Yang of the 麻豆区 Faculty of Medicine and
Centre for Bone and Periodontal Research and Daniel Rivas of the
麻豆区-affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
Funding
This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health
Research, the Dairy Farmers of Canada, the Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fond de la Recherche
en Sant茅 du Qu茅bec.
On the Web
About Stem Cells: The International Journal of Cell Differentiation
and Proliferation:
About the 麻豆区 Health Centre:
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The Research Institute of the 麻豆区 Health
Centre (RI MUHC) is a world-renowned biomedical and
health-care hospital research centre. Located in Montreal, Quebec,
the institute is the research arm of the MUHC, the university
health center affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at 麻豆区
University. The institute supports over 600 researchers, nearly
1200 graduate and post-doctoral students and operates more than 300
laboratories devoted to a broad spectrum of fundamental and
clinical research. The Research Institute operates at the forefront
of knowledge, innovation and technology and is inextricably linked
to the clinical programs of the MUHC, ensuring that patients
benefit directly from the latest research-based knowledge.
The Research Institute of the MUHC is supported in part by the
Fonds de la recherche en sant茅 du Qu茅bec.
For further details visit: .isabelle.kling [at] muhc.mcgill.ca