Salamanders inspire scientists to develop drug to heal older people’s bones faster and better

Amphibians such as salamanders have inspired scientists to develop a new type of drug to make the healing process of bone fractures faster and better.

Researchers from Southampton University have found that a protein that activates a molecular pathway called the ‘Wnt’ pathway causes stem cells found within bones to divide and to turn into more bone cells. The Wnt pathway is found throughout the animal kingdom from sponges to humans and it plays a fundamental role in animal development and disease.

It is involved in controlling the growth of stem cells, which are ‘master cells’ that help restore tissues after injury. One example of this is in amphibians like salamanders. If these animals lose a leg, they can just regrow a new one.

The researchers looked at bone samples from people undergoing hip replacement surgery.

Dr Nick Evans, associate professor in Bioengineering at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study, said: “Bone fractures are a big problem in society, especially in older people. It is getting worse as more people get older and their risk of fracture increases. Most fractures heal completely by themselves, but a surprising number, around 10 per cent, take over six months to heal, or never heal at all. In the worst cases this can lead to several surgical operations, or even amputation.”

He added: “Through our research, we are trying to find ways to chemically stimulate Wnt signalling using drugs. To achieve this, we selectively deliver proteins and other molecules that change Wnt signalling specifically to stem cells, particularly in the bone. This may help us find cures for many diseases, including bone disease, and speed up bone healing after fracture.”

However the researchers found that if the Wnt pathway was switched on too long, the regenerative effect was lost or, even reversed. “This is why it is particularly important to develop technologies for timed and targeted delivery, which is what we have done in this research,” added Dr Evans.

The research was published in the journal Stem Cells.