Interactions between induced pluripotent stem cells and stem cell niche augment osteogenesis and bone regeneration

Repair and reconstruction of critical-size bone defects have been challenges in the clinic for many years. Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for these dilemmas, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as competent candidates of cell sources for tissue engineering over the last decade. The stem cell niche is an intricate microenvironment surrounding the stem cells and deciding their fate, and the mutual effects of iPSCs and these components of the stem cell niche play a significant role in regulating the osteogenic differentiation and other phenotypes of these cells. This review aims to shed light on the interactions between iPSCs and stem cell niche by which osteogenesis and bone regeneration could be enhanced. Here we systematically summarize the latest advances of bone repair vehicles developed from the point of niche engineering and osteogenic microenvironment in the hope of offering a new idea for executing the stem cell therapies with iPSCs for bone tissue engineering. © 2021 The Authors