Bone-nerve crosstalk: a new state for neuralizing bone tissue engineering-A mini review

Area of Science:

• Multidisciplinary field integrating neurobiology and bone tissue engineering.

Background:

• Regeneration reactivates developmental processes to restore tissues, with varying capabilities across species and tissues.
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is vital for bone regeneration, influencing signaling and providing growth factors (e.g., NGF, BDNF) via resident cells.
• Central nervous system (CNS) peptides like Serotonin, Leptin, and BDNF are expressed in bone, regulating homeostasis and regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the interplay between peripheral nerves and bone during development and regeneration.
• To explore neurogenic factors and neural circuits in bone homeostasis and repair.
• To highlight neuro-bone tissue engineering strategies for severe bone injuries.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on neurobiology, bone biology, and tissue engineering.
• Analysis of the role of PNS and CNS in bone development and regeneration.
• Examination of neuro-bone tissue engineering approaches.

Main Results:

• The PNS significantly contributes to bone regeneration through cellular components and secreted growth factors.
• CNS peptides and their receptors in bone are critical for skeletal homeostasis, metabolism, and repair.
• A synchronized regulation exists between the CNS and PNS in bone maintenance and regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the neuro-bone axis is crucial for advancing tissue engineering.
• Targeting neurogenic pathways offers promising therapeutic strategies for bone regeneration.
• Neuro-bone tissue engineering holds potential for treating severe bone defects.