Cells that are cultured in transparent 3D hydrogels can be imaged with high sensitivity and low background using confocal reflectance imaging. This label-free approach allows long-term live imaging with low toxicity and minimal specimen preparation.
AB204 is an Activin/BMP2 chimera, which has been found to exhibit a higher activity than Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) in osteogenic activity. To prepare AB204 for its preclinical studies, AB204 has been characterized in various formulation buffers. We observed that AB204 purified by ion-exchange chromatography has low water solubility (2.0 mg/ml), whereas it has high water solubility (higher than 10.0 mg/ml) when purified by reverse-phase chromatography. Analysis of the purification procedures reveals that the buffer composition at the lyophilization step determines the solubility. Lyophilization from sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.5 resulted in formation of sodium hydroxide, which caused low solubility of AB204 by pH increase upon reconstitution in water. However, lyophilization from buffers, containing acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) rendered AB204 to be highly soluble. During the course of these analyses, we found a simple procedure to further reduce residual amount of TFA in the purified AB204.
Bone homeostasis is a dynamic equilibrium between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. This process is primarily controlled by the most abundant and mechanosensitive bone cells, osteocytes, that reside individually, within chambers of porous hydroxyapatite bone matrix. Recent studies have unveiled additional functional roles for osteocytes in directly contributing to local matrix regulation as well as systemic roles through endocrine functions by communicating with distant organs such as the kidney. Osteocyte function is governed largely by both biochemical signaling and the mechanical stimuli exerted on bone. Mechanical stimulation is required to maintain bone health whilst aging and reduced level of loading are known to result in bone loss. To date, both in vivo and in vitro approaches have been established to answer important questions such as the effect of mechanical stimuli, the mechanosensors involved, and the mechanosensitive signaling pathways in osteocytes. However, our understanding of osteocyte mechanotransduction has been limited due to the technical challenges of working with these cells since they are individually embedded within the hard hydroxyapatite bone matrix. This review highlights the current knowledge of the osteocyte functional role in maintaining bone health and the key regulatory pathways of these mechanosensitive cells. Finally, we elaborate on the current therapeutic opportunities offered by existing treatments and the potential for targeting osteocyte-directed signaling.
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