Osteoblast Precursors Differentiation into Mature Osteoblasts is Governed by Continuous BMP-2 Induction: A Biomaterials Approach

摘要

Cells must organize themselves spatially and interact mechanically with their environment to ensure different functions. They must take on a correct form, an internal structure adapted to each state in their development. Some cells must be able to change their shape to perform a specific function. They also must be able to reorganize their internal components in their developmental stages, such as differentiation, in order to adapt to different circumstances. In the osteoblast lineage, cells go through various stages of differentiation and maturation. Indeed from an adult stem-cell, osteoblast progenitors are first derived, followed by osteoblast precursors, then mature osteoblasts and finally osteocytes. During this process of differentiation, the cell adopts different morphologies and sizes. The differentiation of osteoblast precursors into mature osteoblasts has not been well studied and is hardly feasible. Indeed, there is no culture system to perfectly achieve this differentiation for various reasons such as a lack of an in vitro experimental model which mimics the in vivo physiological situation.