Metabolic Glycoengineering: A Promising Strategy to Remodel Microenvironments for Regenerative Therapy

Yi Li; Yuang Zhang; Yiqin Tao; Xianpeng Huang; Chao Yu; Haibin Xu; Jiangjie Chen; Kaishun Xia; Kesi Shi; Yongxiang Zhang; Jingkai Wang; Jiawei Shu; Feng Cheng; Shaoke Wang; Chengzhen Liang; Fangcai Li; Xiaopeng Zhou; Qixin Chen

doi:10.1155/2023/1655750

Metabolic Glycoengineering: A Promising Strategy to Remodel Microenvironments for Regenerative Therapy

Stem Cells Int. 2023 Feb 13:2023:1655750. doi: 10.1155/2023/1655750. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yi Li^{1

2}, Yuang Zhang^{1

2}, Yiqin Tao^{1

2}, Xianpeng Huang^{1

2}, Chao Yu^{1

2}, Haibin Xu^{1

2}, Jiangjie Chen^{1

2}, Kaishun Xia^{1

2}, Kesi Shi^{1

2}, Yongxiang Zhang^{1

2}, Jingkai Wang^{1

2}, Jiawei Shu^{1

2}, Feng Cheng^{1

2}, Shaoke Wang^{1

2}, Chengzhen Liang^{1

2}, Fangcai Li^{1

2}, Xiaopeng Zhou^{1

2}, Qixin Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
² Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Abstract

Cell-based regenerative therapy utilizes the differentiation potential of stem cells to rejuvenate tissues. But the dynamic fate of stem cells is calling for precise control to optimize their therapeutic efficiency. Stem cell fate is regulated by specific conditions called "microenvironments." Among the various factors in the microenvironment, the cell-surface glycan acts as a mediator of cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions and manipulates the behavior of cells. Herein, metabolic glycoengineering (MGE) is an easy but powerful technology for remodeling the structure of glycan. By presenting unnatural glycans on the surface, MGE provides us an opportunity to reshape the microenvironment and evoke desired cellular responses. In this review, we firstly focused on the determining role of glycans on cellular activity; then, we introduced how MGE influences glycosylation and subsequently affects cell fate; at last, we outlined the application of MGE in regenerative therapy, especially in the musculoskeletal system, and the future direction of MGE is discussed.

Publication types

Review