Exosome-shuttled mitochondrial transcription factor A mRNA promotes the osteogenesis of dental pulp stem cells through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activation.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of bone defects by stem cells (MSCs) has achieved limited success over the recent few decades. The emergence of exosomes provides a new strategy for bone regeneration. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanisms of exosomes combined with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on bone regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated exosomes from stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) aggregates and evaluated the efficacy of exosomes combined with DPSCs in a cranial bone defect model. The potential mechanisms were further investigated. RESULTS: The effect of exosomes combined with DPSCs was remarkable on bone regeneration in vivo and exosomes promoted osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs in vitro. Mechanistically, exosomes increased the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in DPSCs by transferring TFAM mRNA. Moreover, highly expressed TFAM in DPSCs enhanced glutamate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, exosomes strengthened bone regeneration of DPSCs through the activation of mitochondrial aerobic metabolism. Our study provides a new potential strategy to improve DPSC-based bone regenerative treatment.

RETRACTED: The effect of combined application of pentoxifylline and vitamin E for the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: a meta-analysis.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the corresponding author and following a translated comparative examination of the two articles for similarity. It has been concluded that duplicate publication has occurred. The significantly duplicated article of the same title by same research team is: The effect of combined application of pentoxifylline and vitamin E for the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: A meta-analysis Chin J Stomatol Res (Electronic Edition). August 2017, Vol.11, No.4. Both articles report on a meta-analysis study and focus on the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws by pentoxifylline combined with vitamin E, with search timeframe extending 2 years later in the retracted article.