Prospects of osteoactivin in tissue regeneration.

Osteoactivin (OA) was first discovered in an osteopetrotic rat model using mRNA differential display a decade ago and has been studied recently. OA in bone tissue can directly or indirectly regulate the differentiation of osteoblasts by influencing cell behaviours, such as proliferation and adhesion, as well as inducing serial signal cascades, which would be of great importance in the field of tissue engineering. The results of recent studies have further demonstrated that OA plays a critical role in the differentiation and function of cells, especially in bone formation and fracture healing. Areas covered: The discovery, structure, and function of OA as well as its therapeutic potential in tissue regeneration of bone defects, kidney injury, liver damage, and muscle atrophy. Expert opinion: OA has great potential in promoting the regeneration of damaged tissues, particularly bone tissue, which is supported by a large body of data. Future studies should focus on exploring the underlying mechanism of OA as well as pursuing the ideal form of OA-related regenerative medicine.