Biomaterials at the interface of bone-derived factors and inter-organ communication: Current evidence and future perspectives.
Bioactive materials could revolutionize the use of bone-derived factors in therapy, but more research is needed to demonstrate their effectiveness in regulating distant organ functions.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the thymulin (facteur thymique serique) corpusSummary and findings
The review explores the role of bone-derived factors (BDFs) as endocrine mediators and the potential of bioactive materials to interface with these factors for therapeutic purposes. It highlights the current evidence and challenges in using biomaterials to regulate distant organ functions via BDFs. The paper also discusses the role of artificial intelligence in advancing biomaterial design and understanding bone-organ communication.
Abstract
Bone is increasingly recognized not as a passive structural scaffold but as a dynamic endocrine organ that secretes a diverse repertoire of bone-derived factors (BDFs) which establish communication axes with the brain, kidney, cardiovascular system, immune network and metabolic organs. Harnessing this endocrine potential for therapy requires technologies that interface with skeletal secretory programs with spatial, temporal and biological precision. Bioactive materials have emerged as a promising platform for this purpose. However, complete examples demonstrating that biomaterials regulate distant organ function through clearly defined BDF-dependent mechanisms remain limited; therefore, this Review discusses biomaterial-based intervention as an emerging framework built on current evidence from local skeletal repair, BDF-related marker regulation and controlled release studies. Concurrently, artificial intelligence may assist osteokine discovery, guiding biomaterial design and enabling patient-specific digital twins of bone-organ axis dynamics. This Review synthesizes current understanding of BDF-mediated inter-organ communication, critically evaluates biomaterial strategies and clinical lessons from BDF-related therapeutics, and proposes a framework for developing biomaterials at the interface of skeletal endocrine regulation and inter-organ communication, with attention to validation requirements, translational safety and off-target systemic effects.
Background
Bone is increasingly recognized as an endocrine organ that secretes bone-derived factors (BDFs) affecting various bodily systems. Understanding how to harness these factors for therapeutic purposes is crucial, as it could lead to innovative treatments for multiple organ systems. This study is important because it reviews the potential of bioactive materials to interface with BDFs and explores the future of biomaterials in therapeutic applications.
Methods
Not reported in abstract.
Results
The review outlines the potential of bioactive materials to interact with bone-derived factors to influence distant organ functions. It highlights the current limitations in the field, noting that few examples exist where biomaterials have successfully regulated organ functions through BDF-dependent mechanisms. The paper also discusses the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the discovery and application of osteokines.
Interpretation
The review suggests that while bioactive materials hold promise for interfacing with bone-derived factors, the field is still in its infancy with limited practical examples. The potential for artificial intelligence to improve biomaterial design and understanding of bone-organ communication is noted as a future direction. However, the lack of direct experimental evidence and reliance on existing literature limits the immediate clinical applicability of these findings.
Key findings
- Bone acts as a dynamic endocrine organ secreting BDFs.
- Bioactive materials are promising for interfacing with skeletal secretory programs.
- Limited examples exist of biomaterials regulating distant organ function via BDFs.
- Artificial intelligence may aid in osteokine discovery and biomaterial design.
Limitations
- Lacks specific quantitative data.
- Few examples of successful biomaterial interventions.
- Primarily a synthesis of existing knowledge.
- No new experimental evidence presented.