Effect of Engrailed-1 overexpression and silencing on mesenchymal stem cell migration and proliferation

• Grant number: 24/14198-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Márcio Mateus Beloti
• Grantee: Ana Clara Silva Campanaro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The process of bone regeneration/repair is regulated by numerous molecules and signaling pathways, including the engrailed-1 protein (EN1), a transcription factor that participates in the regulation of craniofacial development, which is still poorly studied in the context of bone tissue, especially in bone repair. Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) are of therapeutic interest in regenerative medicine, since through their plasticity and angiogenic role they can modulate the immune and anti-inflammatory response and contribute to the regeneration/repair of bone tissue. Therefore, we developed the following hypothesis: The En1 gene, as a transcription factor involved in oncogenic processes, increases the proliferation and migration of mesenchymal cells from adipose tissue. To test this hypothesis, this project aims to investigate the effect of En1 overexpression and silencing mediated of CRISPR/Cas9 technique on the migration and proliferation of AT-MSCs. The results obtained will be scientifically and therapeutically relevant, since EN1 may be a target protein for the development of new therapeutic strategies that promote the bone regeneration/repair, regulating important events to osteogenesis.