Borax induces osteogenesis by stimulating NaBC1 transporter via activation of BMP pathway

Rico, P., Rodrigo-Navarro, A. , Sánchez Pérez, L. and Salmeron-Sanchez, M. (2020) Borax induces osteogenesis by stimulating NaBC1 transporter via activation of BMP pathway. Communications Biology, 3, 717. (doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01449-4) (PMID:33247189) (PMCID:PMC7695834)

Abstract

The intrinsic properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make them ideal candidates for tissue engineering applications. Efforts have been made to control MSC behavior by using material systems to engineer synthetic extracellular matrices and/or include soluble factors in the media. This work proposes a simple approach based on ion transporter stimulation to determine stem cell fate that avoids the use of growth factors. Addition of borax alone, transported by the NaBC1-transporter, enhanced MSC adhesion and contractility, promoted osteogenesis and inhibited adipogenesis. Stimulated-NaBC1 promoted osteogenesis via the BMP canonical pathway (comprising Smad1/YAP nucleus translocation and osteopontin expression) through a mechanism that involves simultaneous NaBC1/BMPR1A and NaBC1/α5β1/αvβ3 co-localization. We describe an original function for NaBC1 transporter, besides controlling borate homeostasis, capable of stimulating growth factor receptors and fibronectin-binding integrins. Our results open up new biomaterial engineering approaches for biomedical applications by a cost-effective strategy that avoids the use of soluble growth factors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel and Rodrigo-Navarro, Mr Aleixandre
• Authors: Rico, P., Rodrigo-Navarro, A., Sánchez Pérez, L., and Salmeron-Sanchez, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Communications Biology
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2399-3642
• ISSN (Online): 2399-3642
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Communications Biology 3: 717
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.5525/gla.researchdata.1076

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173192		Engineering growth factor microenvironments- a new therapeutic paradigm for regenerative medicine	Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/P001114/1	ENG - Biomedical Engineering