Browsing by Author "Gasser, Andreas"

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    Intramedullary Mg2Ag nails augment callus formation during fracture healing in mice
    (Elsevier, 2016-05) Jähn, Katharina; Saito, Hiroaki; Taipaleenmäki, Hanna; Gasser, Andreas; Hort, Norbert; Feyerabend, Frank; Schlüter, Hartmut; Rueger, Johannes M.; Lehmann, Wolfgang; Willumeit-Römer, Regine; Hesse, Eric; Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, IU School of Medicine
    Intramedullary stabilization is frequently used to treat long bone fractures. Implants usually remain unless complications arise. Since implant removal can become technically very challenging with the potential to cause further tissue damage, biodegradable materials are emerging as alternative options. Magnesium (Mg)-based biodegradable implants have a controllable degradation rate and good tissue compatibility, which makes them attractive for musculoskeletal research. Here we report for the first time the implantation of intramedullary nails made of an Mg alloy containing 2% silver (Mg2Ag) into intact and fractured femora of mice. Prior in vitro analyses revealed an inhibitory effect of Mg2Ag degradation products on osteoclast differentiation and function with no impair of osteoblast function. In vivo, Mg2Ag implants degraded under non-fracture and fracture conditions within 210 days and 133 days, respectively. During fracture repair, osteoblast function and subsequent bone formation were enhanced, while osteoclast activity and bone resorption were decreased, leading to an augmented callus formation. We observed a widening of the femoral shaft under steady state and regenerating conditions, which was at least in part due to an uncoupled bone remodeling. However, Mg2Ag implants did not cause any systemic adverse effects. These data suggest that Mg2Ag implants might be promising for intramedullary fixation of long bone fractures, a novel concept that has to be further investigated in future studies.
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    TG-interacting factor 1 (Tgif1)-deficiency attenuates bone remodeling and blunts the anabolic response to parathyroid hormone
    (Nature Research, 2019-03-22) Saito, Hiroaki; Gasser, Andreas; Bolamperti, Simona; Maeda, Miki; Matthies, Levi; Jähn, Katharina; Long, Courtney L.; Schlüter, Hartmut; Kwiatkowski, Marcel; Saini, Vaibhav; Pajevic, Paola Divieti; Bellido, Teresita; Wijnen, Andre J. van; Mohammad, Khalid S.; Guise, Theresa A.; Taipaleenmäki, Hanna; Hesse, Eric; Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine
    Osteoporosis is caused by increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation. Intermittent administration of a fragment of Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates osteoblast-mediated bone formation and is used in patients with severe osteoporosis. However, the mechanisms by which PTH elicits its anabolic effect are not fully elucidated. Here we show that the absence of the homeodomain protein TG-interacting factor 1 (Tgif1) impairs osteoblast differentiation and activity, leading to a reduced bone formation. Deletion of Tgif1 in osteoblasts and osteocytes decreases bone resorption due to an increased secretion of Semaphorin 3E (Sema3E), an osteoclast-inhibiting factor. Tgif1 is a PTH target gene and PTH treatment failed to increase bone formation and bone mass in Tgif1-deficient mice. Thus, our study identifies Tgif1 as a novel regulator of bone remodeling and an essential component of the PTH anabolic action. These insights contribute to a better understanding of bone metabolism and the anabolic function of PTH.