Recombinant Proteins-Based Strategies in Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

The increase in fracture rates and/or problems associated with missing bones due to accidents or various pathologies generates socio-health problems with a very high impact. Tissue engineering aims to offer some kind of strategy to promote the repair of damaged tissue or its restoration as close as possible to the original tissue. Among the alternatives proposed by this specialty, the development of scaffolds obtained from recombinant proteins is of special importance. Furthermore, science and technology have advanced to obtain recombinant chimera's proteins. This review aims to offer a synthetic description of the latest and most outstanding advances made with these types of scaffolds, particularly emphasizing the main recombinant proteins that can be used to construct scaffolds in their own right, i.e., not only to impregnate them, but also to make scaffolds from their complex structure, with the purpose of being considered in bone regenerative medicine in the near future.

Keywords: BMP-2; bone; recombinant proteins; scaffold; tissue engineering.

Figure 1

A brief summary of BMP-2 and BMP-9 signaling pathways, and their relation to the Wnt canonical pathway. ECM, extracellular matrix; CM, cell membrane; NM, nuclear membrane; BMP-2, bone morphogenetic protein 2; BMP-4, bone morphogenetic protein 4; BMP-9, bone morphogenetic protein 9; BMPr2, bone morphogenetic protein 2 receptor; BMPr1, bone morphogenetic protein 1 receptor; miR, microRNA; miR-27a, microRNA 27a; miR20a, microRNA 20a; Wnt3A, Wnt family member 3A; Wnt5a/b, Wnt family member 5a and 5b; DKK-1, Dickkopf-related protein 1; LRP5, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5; YAP, yes-associated protein; TAZ, transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif; APC, activated protein C; GSK3, glycogen synthase kinase-3; CK1, casein kinase 1; TEADs, transcriptional enhancer activator domains; Runx2, runt-related transcription factor 2; Sp7/Osx, transcription factor Sp7 or Osterix; TCF1/LEF1, specific T-cell factor/factor 1 transcriptional factor; MMP13, matrix metallopeptidase 13; RANK-L, receptor activator for nuclear factor κB ligand; OCN, osteocalcin; OPN, osteopontin; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; OPG, osteoprotegerin; Col1, type 1 collagen; IGFBP-4, insulin-like growth factor binding-protein 4.