Direct evidence for the age-dependent demise of GNAS-mutated cells in oral fibrous dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a benign bone disease characterized by fibro-osseous lesions. FD is caused by somatic mutations in the gene, guanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha stimulating activity polypeptide 1 (GNAS), which encodes the G protein subunit, Gsα. FD manifests early in life, but the growth of lesions usually ceases in adulthood. FD lesions often exhibit somatic mutation mosaicism. In this study, the relationship between lesion growth and mutation prevalence within a lesion was investigated. DESIGN: Lesions from five FD patients were characterized by radiographical, histological and immunohistochemical methods. To accurately calculate the prevalence of mutations within lesions, GNAS codon 201 in genomic DNA isolated from fresh surgical FD specimens was sequenced. RESULTS: Uniquely, a lesion in one 46-year-old patient was still growing, enabling simultaneous analysis of both stable-old and active-new FD lesions in the same patient. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that a newer, proximal lesion was growing while an older, distal lesion was not. The mutation prevalence differed between these lesions; it was low in the old and high in the new lesion. Thus, the frequency of mutated cells had decreased in the older lesion. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first direct evidence for the age-dependent demise of mutated cells in FD, helping to explain why FD lesion growth generally ceases in adulthood.

An Experimental Study on Guided Bone Regeneration Using a Polylactide-co-glycolide Membrane-Immobilized Conditioned Medium.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether bone regeneration can be accelerated by using a conditioned medium (CM) and guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CM was harvested from rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The components of CM were immobilized using a polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) membrane treated with and without 0.5 mol/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to elevate the hydrophilicity. Four experimental groups were prepared: PLGA membrane treated with (1) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; PBS-M), (2) PBS and 0.5 mol/L NaOH (hydrophilic treatment; PBS-HM), (3) CM (CM-M), and (4) CM and 0.5 mol/L NaOH (CM-HM). These experimental membranes were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Proteins derived from BMSCs immobilized on the PLGA membrane were detected with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured to analyze the effect of CM on the BMSCs. Experimental membranes were transplanted into a rat calvarial bone defect model. Microcomputed tomography and histologic analyses were performed 4 and 8 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS: The CM derived from BMSCs can be immobilized on the PLGA membrane. Hydrophilic treatment of the PLGA membrane enhanced the amount of CM immobilization. LC/MS/MS analysis showed that the immobilized proteins on the surface of PLGA membrane were extracellular matrix, such as collagen, decorin, and fibronectin. The proteins in the CM, which were released from the PLGA membrane, enhanced cell proliferation and ALP activity in rat BMSCs. Newly formed bone area at the bone defects that had been treated with CM-HM was significantly high compared with those at bone defects treated with the other membranes. CONCLUSION: The PLGA membrane treated with 0.5 mol/L NaOH and CM promoted bone regeneration in this rat calvarial defect model.

Effects of the permeability of shields with autologous bone grafts on bone augmentation.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to histologically evaluate and compare the effects of the permeability of shields on bone augmentation in a rabbit calvarial model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve adult male Japanese white rabbits were used for the study. Each received four titanium cylinders, which were placed into perforated slits made in the outer cortical bone of the calvaria and filled with autologous iliac bone. The tops of the cylinders were randomly covered with the following test materials: (1) uncovered (control), (2) a titanium mesh, (3) an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane, or (4) a titanium plate. After 8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and ground sections were obtained for histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in augmented bone volume among all groups. However, the distribution of augmented bone in the cylinders differed among the groups. In the uncovered control, there was significantly less augmented bone in the upper third of the cylinder than in the middle or lower thirds. Findings were similar for the titanium mesh group and the e-PTFE membrane group, with significantly less augmented bone in the upper third than in the middle or lower thirds. In the titanium plate group, there was no significant difference in augmented bone among the upper, middle, and lower thirds. The differences among the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the cylinder were smaller in the order of titanium plate, e-PTFE membrane, titanium mesh, and uncovered control. CONCLUSION: The use of low-permeability shields resulted in small differences in the distribution of bone structure in the present bone augmentation model.

Rat bone marrow stromal cell-conditioned medium promotes early osseointegration of titanium implants.

PURPOSE: To enhance the stability of titanium (Ti) implants using conditioned medium (CM) derived from rat bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from rat femurs and grown in culture, and the culture medium was used as CM. The CM was immobilized on the surface of Ti implants with calcifying solution. The topology of the Ti implants after immobilization of CM was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ti-immobilized CM was analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The adhesiveness and the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs grown on CM-coated discs were analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Ti implants with specimen-immobilized CM labeled with quantum dots (QDs) were placed into rat femurs. The localization of the CM was detected by in vivo imaging at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after implantation. The removal torque test and histologic bone implant contact (BIC) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Rat BMSC-CM was successfully immobilized on Ti implants. The immobilized CM contained about 2000 proteins, including collagen type I, bone sialoprotein, fibronectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor that are important in new bone formation. CM promoted cell adhesion and osteocalcin gene expression of rat BMSCs. The labeled CM remained associated with the Ti implant at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days postimplantation. The removal torque value and BIC of Ti implants with immobilized CM were higher than those of control implants on days 1, 7, and 14 after implantation. CONCLUSION: Immobilized CM components on the surface of Ti implants promoted integration into bone during an early stage.

Effects of self-assembling peptide hydrogel scaffold on bone regeneration with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

PURPOSE: The objective of this pilot study was to histologically evaluate bone regeneration using a self-assembling peptide hydrogel scaffold with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in a rabbit calvaria model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five adult New Zealand White rabbits were used for the study. Each received four titanium cylinders, which were placed into perforated slits made in the outer cortical bone of the calvaria. The cylinders were filled with the following test materials: (1) unfilled control; (2) rhBMP-2; (3) PuraMatrix (PM), a synthetic self-assembling peptide (RADA16-I) consisting of a 16-amino acid sequence and with a three-dimensional structure; and (4) PM/rhBMP-2. Each cylinder was covered with a titanium lid. After 8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and ground sections were obtained for histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: Histomorphometric analysis showed that regenerated tissue in the cylinder with PM/rhBMP-2 was significantly increased compared to the empty control. The mean area values of regenerated tissue in the cylinders were 35.80% ± 10.35% (control), 47.94% ± 5.65% (rhBMP-2), 48.94% ± 11.33% (PM), and 58.06% ± 14.84% (PM/rhBMP-2). The mean area values of newly formed bone in the cylinders were 9.39% ± 4.34% (control), 14.03% ± 2.25% (rhBMP-2), 13.99% ± 2.15% (PM), and 16.61% ± 3.79% (PM/rhBMP-2). Neither rhBMP-2 nor PM alone significantly enhanced bone regeneration compared to the empty control cylinder. CONCLUSIONS: PM with rhBMP-2 significantly enhanced bone regeneration on the bone augmentation model in a rabbit. PM promises to be a useful alternative synthetic material as a carrier for rhBMP-2 for bone regeneration.

Separation of metal ions in nitrate solution by ultrasonic atomization.

In the ultrasonic atomization of metal nitrate solutions, the molar ratio of metal ions is changed between solution and mist. Small molar metal ions tend to be transferred to mist by ultrasonic wave acceleration, while large molar ions tend to remain in solution. As a result, metal ions can be separated by ultrasonic atomization. We show experimental data and propose a conceptual mechanism for the ultrasonic separation of metal ions.