Polycaprolactone scaffolds as a biomaterial for cementoblast delivery: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To define the potential of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold for cementoblast delivery. BACKGROUND: Dental cementum is critical for tooth attachment and position, and its regenerative capabilities remain unpredictable. METHODS: PCL scaffolds were manufactured by the electrospinning technique at 10% and 20% (w/v) and seeded with cementoblasts (OCCM-30). Scaffolds were characterized for their morphology and biological performance by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal and conventional histology, cytocompatibility (PrestoBlue assay), gene expression (type I collagen - Col1; bone sialoprotein - Bsp; runt-related transcription factor 2 - Runx-2; alkaline phosphatase - Alpl; osteopontin - Opn; osteocalcin - Ocn, osterix - Osx), and the potential to induce extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization in vitro. RESULTS: Overall, data analysis showed that PCL scaffolds allowed cell adhesion and proliferation, modulated the expression of key markers of cementoblasts, and led to enhanced extracellular matrix deposition and calcium deposition as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our findings allow concluding that PCL scaffolds are a viable tool to culture OCCM-30 cells, leading to an increased potential to promote mineralization in vitro. Further studies should be designed in order to define the clinical relevance of cementoblast-loaded PCL scaffolds to promote new cementum formation.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repress Osteoblast Differentiation Under Osteogenic-Inducing Conditions.

This study was designed to investigate the influence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on osteoblast (OB) differentiation. Rat bone marrow MSCs were cultured either in growth medium that maintained a MSC phenotype or in osteogenic medium that induced differentiation into OBs. Then, cells were grown in two different culture conditions: indirect co-culture of MSCs and OBs and OBs cultured in MSC-conditioned medium. As a control culture condition, OBs were grown in osteogenic medium without the influence of MSCs. We evaluated cell proliferation, the gene expression of key bone markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression, and extracellular matrix mineralization. The results showed that, regardless of whether OBs were indirectly co-cultured with MSCs or cultured in MSC-conditioned medium, MSCs repressed OB differentiation, as evidenced by the downregulation of all evaluated bone marker genes, decreased ALP activity, inhibition of BSP protein expression, and reduced extracellular matrix mineralization. Taken together, these results indicate that despite the key role of both MSCs and OBs in the osteogenic process, the repressive effect of MSCs on OB differentiation in an osteogenic environment may represent a barrier to the strategy of using them together in cell-based therapies to induce bone repair.

In vitro cytotoxicity of resin cement and its influence on the expression of antioxidant genes.

AIM: This study evaluated cytotoxicity and antioxidant gene expression of resin cements on human gingival fibroblasts (hGF). MATERIALS AND METHOD: RelyX Ultimate™(RXU), Variolink™II(VLII), and RelyXU200™(RXU200) resin cements were incubated with culture medium for 24 h to obtain eluates. Then, the eluates were applied over hGF to assess cell viability at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h and antioxidant gene expression at 24 h. hGF cultures non-exposed to the eluates were used as Control. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α≤0.05). RESULTS: RXU and RXU200 reduced the number of viable cells in 24 h. Longer exposure to cement extracts caused cell death. Gene expression showed peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) induction by all resin cement types, and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) induction by RXU200 and VLII. Moreover, RXU200 induced not only PRDX1 and SOD1, but also glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), catalase (CAT), and glutathione synthetase (GSS). CONCLUSIONS: All resin cements showed toxicity, and induced antioxidant genes in hGF. Antioxidant gene induction is at least partly associated with cytotoxicity of tested cements to oxidative stress experience.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade dos cimentos resinosos Rely X Ultimate 2, Rely X U200 e Variolink II, bem como sua influência na expressão de genes antioxidantes em fibroblastos gengivais humanos. Materiais e Método: Corpos de prova de cada cimento foram colocados em meio de cultura por 24 h e os extratos correspondentes foram aplicados aos fibroblastos. A viabilidade celular foi avaliada após 24, 48 e 72 h de exposição pelo ensaio de exclusão do azul de tripano e MTT. A expressão gênica foi avaliada por PCR quantitativo após 24 h de exposição aos extratos. Estes parâmetros foram comparados aos das células não expostas aos cimentos. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste ANOVA, seguido pelo pós-teste de Bonferroni (a≤0.05). RESULTADOS: Os resultados demonstraram que todos os cimentos promoveram redução do número de células viáveis e da atividade mitocondrial nos períodos de 48 e de 72 h (p< 0,01), sendo que o Variolink II apresentou o menor efeito e os cimentos Rely X Ultimate e Rely X U200 promoveram similarmente os maiores efeitos. A análise de expressão gênica evidenciou influência significativa em todos os cimentos avaliados sobre os níveis de transcritos de PRDX1, SOD1, GPX1 e GSS (p> 0,05), com um aumento considerável no Rely X U200. Conclusão: A indução de genes antioxidantes está, pelo menos em parte, associada à citotoxicidade dos cimentos testados para a experiência de estresse oxidativo.

In vitro cytotoxicity of resin cement and its influence on the expression of antioxidant genes / Avaliação in vitro da toxicidade de cimentos resinosos e sua influência na expressão de genes antioxidantes em fibroblastos humanos

ABSTRACT Aim: This study evaluated cytotoxicity and antioxidant gene expression of resin cements on human gingival fibroblasts (hGF). Materials and Method: RelyX Ultimate™(RXU), Variolink™II(VLII), and RelyXU200™(RXU200) resin cements were incubated with culture medium for 24 h to obtain eluates. Then, the eluates were applied over hGF to assess cell viability at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h and antioxidant gene expression at 24 h. hGF cultures non-exposed to the eluates were used as Control. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α≤0.05). Results: RXU and RXU200 reduced the number of viable cells in 24 h. Longer exposure to cement extracts caused cell death. Gene expression showed peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) induction by all resin cement types, and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) induction by RXU200 and VLII. Moreover, RXU200 induced not only PRDX1 and SOD1, but also glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), catalase (CAT), and glutathione synthetase (GSS). Conclusions: All resin cements showed toxicity, and induced antioxidant genes in hGF. Antioxidant gene induction is at least partly associated with cytotoxicity of tested cements to oxidative stress experience.

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade dos cimentos resinosos Rely X Ultimate 2, Rely X U200 e Variolink II, bem como sua influência na expressão de genes antioxidantes em fibroblastos gengivais humanos. Materiais e Método: Corpos de prova de cada cimento foram colocados em meio de cultura por 24 h e os extratos correspondentes foram aplicados aos fibroblastos. A viabilidade celular foi avaliada após 24, 48 e 72 h de exposição pelo ensaio de exclusão do azul de tripano e MTT. A expressão gênica foi avaliada por PCR quantitativo após 24 h de exposição aos extratos. Estes parâmetros foram comparados aos das células não expostas aos cimentos. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste ANOVA, seguido pelo pós-teste de Bonferroni (a≤0.05). Resultados: Os resultados demonstraram que todos os cimentos promoveram redução do número de células viáveis e da atividade mitocondrial nos períodos de 48 e de 72 h (p < 0,01), sendo que o Variolink II apresentou o menor efeito e os cimentos Rely X Ultimate e Rely X U200 promoveram similarmente os maiores efeitos. A análise de expressão gênica evidenciou influência significativa em todos os cimentos avaliados sobre os níveis de transcritos de PRDX1, SOD1, GPX1 e GSS (p> 0,05), com um aumento considerável no Rely X U200. Conclusão: A indução de genes antioxidantes está, pelo menos em parte, associada à citotoxicidade dos cimentos testados para a experiência de estresse oxidativo.

Biopolymer-based membranes associated with osteogenic growth peptide for guided bone regeneration.

Barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration (GBR) mainly promote mechanical maintenance of bone defect space and induce osteopromotion. Additionally, biopolymer-based membranes may provide greater bioactivity and biocompatibility due to their similarity to extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, biopolymers-based membranes from bacterial cellulose (BC) and collagen (COL) associated with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP(10-14)) were evaluated to determine in vitro osteoinductive potential in early osteogenesis; moreover, histological study was performed to evaluate the BC-COL OGP(10-14) membranes on bone healing after GBR in noncritical defects in rat femur. The results showed that the BC-COL and BC-COL OGP(10-14) membranes promoted cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblastic cell cultures. However, ECM mineralization was similar between cultures grown on BC OGP(10-14) and BC-COL OGP(10-14) membranes. In vivo results showed that all the membranes tested, including the peptide-free BC membrane, promoted better bone regeneration than control group. Furthermore, the BC-COL OGP(10-14) membranes induced higher radiographic density in the repaired bone than the other groups at 1, 4 and 16 weeks. Histomorphometric analyses revealed that the BC-COL OGP(10-14) induced higher percentage of bone tissue in the repaired area at 2 and 4 weeks than others membranes. In general, these biopolymer-based membranes might be potential candidates for bone regeneration applications.