Comparing the Osteogenic Potentials and Bone Regeneration Capacities of Bone Marrow and Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rabbit Calvarial Bone Defect Model.

Yu-Chieh Lee,Wei-Zhen Lew,Sheng-Wei Feng,Ya-Hui Chan,Sung-Chih Hsieh

doi:10.3390/ijms20205015

Abstract

The bone regeneration efficiency of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DPSCs) combined with xenografts in the craniofacial region remains unclear. Accordingly, this study commenced by comparing the cell morphology, cell proliferation, trilineage differentiation, mineral synthesis, and osteogenic gene expression of BMSCs and DPSCs in vitro. Four experimental groups (empty control, Bio-Oss only, Bio-Oss+BMSCs, and Bio-Oss+DPSCs) were then designed and implanted in rabbit calvarial defects. The BMSCs and DPSCs showed a similar morphology, proliferative ability, surface marker profile, and trilineage-differentiation potential in vitro. However, the BMSCs exhibited a higher mineral deposition and expression levels of osteogenic marker genes, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin (OCN). In the in vivo studies, the bone volume density in both MSC groups was significantly greater than that in the empty control or Bio-Oss only group. Moreover, the new bone formation and Collagen I / osteoprotegerin protein expressions of the scaffold+MSC groups were higher than those of the Bio-Oss only group. Finally, the Bio-Oss+BMSC and Bio-Oss+DPSC groups had a similar bone mineral density, new bone formation, and osteogenesis-related protein expression. Overall, the DPSCs seeded on Bio-Oss matched the bone regeneration efficacy of BMSCs in vivo and hence appear to be a promising strategy for craniofacial defect repair in future clinical applications.

Highlights

Craniofacial bone defects occur for many reasons, such as bone disease, trauma, severe infection, congenital malformations, and tumor resections, and frequently require bone tissue reconstruction for medical or aesthetic reasons [1]
While autogenous bone grafts are the gold standard for bone regeneration, donor site morbidity and the limited availability of bone volume restrict their practical application in clinical contexts [3,4]
The present results have shown that the osteogenic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is better than that of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DPSCs)

Summary

Introduction

Craniofacial bone defects occur for many reasons, such as bone disease, trauma, severe infection, congenital malformations, and tumor resections, and frequently require bone tissue reconstruction for medical or aesthetic reasons [1]. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine offer novel treatment modalities for such defects, including bone augmentation procedures by using scaffolds, stem cells, and cell signaling [2]. While autogenous bone grafts are the gold standard for bone regeneration, donor site morbidity and the limited availability of bone volume restrict their practical application in clinical contexts [3,4]. Current commercially available materials have only a poor osteogenic and osteoinductive ability [5,6]. Cell-based bone tissue engineering, including the use of osteoinductive stem cells combined with an osteoconductive scaffold, has recently attracted growing attention as an alternative treatment modality for the repair of bone defects [7,8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion