RECOMBINANT HUMAN COLLAGEN & CTGF FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING

能够影响再生的生长因子的组合 具有适合充当该组织支架的基质的组织 是组织工程学的核心原则 我们打算测试一下 通过开发原型组织工程生物材料， 体内和体外概念验证研究。 结缔组织生长 CTGF是一种关键的纤维化生长因子，作用于TGF-β 1的下游。 促进间充质细胞增殖和刺激 细胞外基质沉积 我们最近的数据表明， 软骨、皮肤和骨的发育和分化。利用 CTGF在组织工程中的应用尚待探索。实力， 持久性和生物相容性是 使这些蛋白质非常适合作为支架， 问题研究 虽然动物来源的胶原蛋白是可用的， 作为生物材料，人们越来越关注 其纯度、安全性和免疫原性。 在20种已知的胶原蛋白中， 只有1型胶原蛋白被评价为生物材料，这也是因为 它是唯一经济地从组织中提取的胶原蛋白。 直到 近年来，重组表达人胶原蛋白已变得困难 由于需要显著的翻译后修饰， 功能 我们在胶原蛋白表达技术方面的成功现在为我们提供了 这是一种产生和探索更稀有的、组织特异性的人类基因的方法， 胶原如II型（主要存在于软骨中）和III型（主要存在于软骨中 在船舶）。 评价重组人胶原蛋白和CTGF作为组织成分 工程治疗，我们具体将：1）生产重组 人I、II和III型胶原蛋白， 活酵母表达系统。 这将涉及表达， 纯化、配制和表征; 2）评估 重组人胶原蛋白与组织相比的生物相容性， 3）体外研究如何匹配间充质 细胞类型和胶原基质影响细胞附着，分化， 迁移、增殖和生存，也决定了 包括这些支架中的CTGF;以及，4）评估这些CTGF增强的 组织工程应用中的支架， 组织修复和再生，重点是软骨，骨骼和皮肤。 我们在相关领域正在进行的计划和承诺的势头 将利用额外的支持，以加快发展这些 新型治疗原型能够解决 医疗需求。 此外，研究和 开发，基于细胞因子和工程化的新组合 和/或组织特异性胶原蛋白。

The combination of a growth factor capable of effecting the regeneration of a tissue with a matrix suitable to act as a scaffold for that tissue is a central tenet in tissue engineering. We propose to test this hypothesis by developing prototype tissue engineering biomaterials for in vivo and in vitro proof of concept studies. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a key fibrogenic growth factor, acts downstream of TGF- beta to promote mesenchymal cell proliferation and to stimulate extracellular matrix deposition. Our recent data suggest a role in development and differentiation of cartilage, skin and bone. Uses of CTGF in tissue engineering applications are unexplored. Strength, persistence and biocompatibility are unique and inherent properties of collagens that make these proteins well suited as scaffolds for these studies. Although animal-derived collagens are available and most frequently used as biomaterials, there are increasing concerns about their purity, safety and immunogenicity. Of the 20 known collagens, only type 1 collagen has been evaluated as a biomaterial, again because it is the only collagen economically extracted from tissue. Until recently, recombinant expression of human collagens has been difficult due to the significant post translational modifications needed for function. Our success with collagen expression technology now provides a means to generate and explore uses of the rarer, tissue-specific human collagens such as types II (predominant in cartilage) and III (prominent in vessels). To evaluate recombinant human collagens and CTGF as components of tissue engineering therapeutics we specifically will: 1) produce recombinant human collagen types I, II, and III in a cost effective, commercially viable yeast expression system. This will involve expression, purification, formulation and characterization; 2) evaluate biocompatibility of the recombinant human collagens compared to tissue- derived materials; 3) investigate in vitro how matching mesenchymal cell type and collagen matrix affects cell attachment, differentiation, migration, proliferation and survival and also determine the effects of including CTGF in these scaffolds; and, 4) evaluate these CTGF augmented scaffolds in tissue engineering applications using in vivo models of tissue repair and regeneration that focus on cartilage, bone and skin. The momentum of our ongoing programs and commitments in related areas will leverage additional support to expedite the development of these novel therapeutic prototypes that are capable of addressing significant medical needs. In addition, further avenues for research and development, based on novel combinations of cytokines and engineered and/or tissue-specific collagens, will have been identified.