Histone methyltransferases and demethylases: regulators in balancing osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Two enzyme families with opposite actions regulate the differentiation of stem cells, and could be exploited to enhance bone repair. The enzymes catalyse modifications of proteins called histones, around which DNA molecules are wrapped; one enzyme family adds methyl groups, the other removes them. These modifications affect gene expression and regulate the development of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Christine Hong and Cun-Yu Wang from the University of California, USA, and colleagues have reviewed the roles of these enzymes. Both enzyme families are essential in determining whether MSCs develop into bone or fat cells, so manipulating them could enable directed differentiation to aid bone repair. The authors conclude that in order to realize the full clinical potential, future work must determine exactly how the opposing functions of the enzymes are balanced during differentiation.

Keywords

adipogenesis / histone methylation / histone lysine methyltransferase / histone lysine demethylase / mesenchymal stem cells / osteogenesis

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