Engineering Better Healing with Stem Cells and CRISPR

In the realm of tissue engineering, scientists are exploring new ways to create living replacements for damaged tissues. These engineered tissues aim to help the body heal itself. However, there are challenges. Custom-made tissues can be expensive and take time to create. Plus, they might not work as well for every patient. One promising approach is to use materials made by cells, known as engineered extracellular matrices or eECMs. These matrices can be stored and used as needed. The key is that they can guide the body's natural healing processes. Researchers have found a way to use specific human stem cells to make these matrices. This method allows for consistent results and opens up new possibilities for customization. A recent study showed how CRISPR/Cas9 technology can be used to edit these matrices. Human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells were modified to remove specific genes. Two genes, VEGF and RUNX2, were targeted. The goal was to see how these changes affected the matrices' ability to promote bone and cartilage repair. The results were interesting. Even without VEGF, the matrices could still guide bone formation. However, when RUNX2 was edited, the matrices showed better cartilage repair. This suggests that different factors in the matrices play unique roles in healing. The study highlights the potential of using CRISPR/Cas9 to fine-tune eECMs. By understanding which factors are crucial for healing, scientists can create more effective materials for tissue repair. This work is a step towards using these engineered matrices in various medical applications. The findings raise important questions. How can these matrices be further improved? What other genes might be involved in the healing process? Exploring these questions could lead to even better outcomes for patients in need of tissue repair.