Regeneration of bone for fracture repair relies on the number of chondro-osteoprogenitors recruited to the fracture site. An impairment of the fracture healing process is reported in 10% of the 6.2 million fractures occurring annually in the United States, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Limitation of stem cell number and imbalance between anabolic and catabolic hormones and growth factors are key elements in determining fracture repair failure. Formation of a cartilage template is essential during the fracture repair process. Adult bone marrow (BM) contains a reservoir of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with in vitro and in vivo potential of becoming cartilage. However, the molecular signals and growth factors that convert MSC from the process of self-replication to that of chondrogenic differentiation are unknown. Our long-term objective is to understand the molecular mechanisms that determine the regenerative potential of MSC to devise more effective therapies to ameliorate the fracture healing process. Our studies demonstrate that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and insulin-like growth factor-l (IGF-I) determine the chondrogenic potential of MSC by inducing chondroprogenitor condensation, growth and differentiation into chondrocytes. We have also demonstrated that MSC when systemically infused are specifically recruited to the fracture site where they differentiate into chondrocytes. We hypothesize that TGF-beta and IGF-I have anabolic chondroinductive effects in the cartilage formation process derived from MSC. We further hypothesize that the chondroinductive actions of TGF-beta and IGF-I can be used to engineer MSC to promote the fracture healing process. The two Specific Aims of this proposal are:1) to discover the mechanisms by which TGF-beta and IGF-I determine the MSC chondrogenic potential;2) to determine the role of TGF-beta and IGF-I in the fracture repair capacity of MSC. To accomplish these specific aims, proposal will combine structural biology, biochemistry, mouse models and molecular imaging techniques for tracing MSC in vivo. We expect that the results of this multi-faceted experimental approach will provide greater understanding of the basic biology and regenerative capacity of MSC. Understanding the role of TGF-beta and IGF-I in the chondrogenic potential of MSC will provide critical information for the development of an ex-vivo MSC-based TGF-beta and IGF-I delivery system capable of potentiating fracture healing.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DK070929-04S1
Application #
7777473
Study Section
Skeletal Biology Development and Disease Study Section (SBDD)
Program Officer
Malozowski, Saul N
Project Start
2006-04-05
Project End
2010-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2009-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$1,475
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Myers, Timothy J; Longobardi, Lara; Willcockson, Helen et al. (2015) BMP2 Regulation of CXCL12 Cellular, Temporal, and Spatial Expression is Essential During Fracture Repair. J Bone Miner Res 30:2014-27
Contaldo, Clara; Myers, Timothy J; Zucchini, Cinzia et al. (2014) Expression levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 modulate the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and osteosarcoma cells. Growth Factors 32:41-52
Myers, Timothy J; Yan, Yun; Granero-Molto, Froilan et al. (2012) Systemically delivered insulin-like growth factor-I enhances mesenchymal stem cell-dependent fracture healing. Growth Factors 30:230-41
Weis, Jared A; Granero-Moltó, Froilán; Myers, Timothy J et al. (2012) Comparison of microCT and an inverse finite element approach for biomechanical analysis: results in a mesenchymal stem cell therapeutic system for fracture healing. J Biomech 45:2164-70
Granero-Molto, Froilan; Myers, Timothy J; Weis, Jared A et al. (2011) Mesenchymal stem cells expressing insulin-like growth factor-I (MSCIGF) promote fracture healing and restore new bone formation in Irs1 knockout mice: analyses of MSCIGF autocrine and paracrine regenerative effects. Stem Cells 29:1537-48
Myers, Timothy J; Granero-Molto, Froilan; Longobardi, Lara et al. (2010) Mesenchymal stem cells at the intersection of cell and gene therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 10:1663-79
Weis, Jared A; Miga, Michael I; Granero-Molto, Froilan et al. (2010) A finite element inverse analysis to assess functional improvement during the fracture healing process. J Biomech 43:557-62
Granero-Molto, Froilan; Weis, Jared A; Miga, Michael I et al. (2009) Regenerative effects of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells in fracture healing. Stem Cells 27:1887-98
Longobardi, Lara; Granero-Moltó, Froilán; O'Rear, Lynda et al. (2009) Subcellular localization of IRS-1 in IGF-I-mediated chondrogenic proliferation, differentiation and hypertrophy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Growth Factors 27:309-20
Granero-Molto, Froilan; Sarmah, Swapnalee; O'Rear, Lynda et al. (2008) Goodpasture antigen-binding protein and its spliced variant, ceramide transfer protein, have different functions in the modulation of apoptosis during zebrafish development. J Biol Chem 283:20495-504

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