RESUMO
Cell sheets technology is being available for fracture healing. This study was performed to clarify bone healing mechanism of undifferentiated (UCS) and osteogenic (OCS) differentiated mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) sheets in the fracture model of dogs. UCS and OCS were harvested at 10 days of culture. Transverse fractures at the radius of six beagle dogs were assigned into three groups (n = 4 in each group) i.e. UCS, OCS and control. The fractures were fixed with a 2.7 mm locking plate and six screws. Cell sheets were wrapped around the fracture site. Bones were harvested 8 weeks after operation, then scanned by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and analyzed histopathologically. The micro-CT revealed different aspects of bone regeneration among the groups. The percentages of external callus volume out of total bone volume in control, UCS, and OCS groups were 42.1, 13.0 and 4.9% (p < 0.05) respectively. However, the percentages of limbs having connectivity of gaps were 25, 12.5 and 75% respectively. In histopathological assessments, OCS group showed well organized and mature woven bone with peripheral cartilage at the fracture site, whereas control group showed cartilage formation without bone maturation or ossification at the fracture site. Meanwhile, fracture site was only filled with fibrous connective tissue without endochondral ossification and bone formation in UCS group. It was suggested that the MSC sheets reduced the quantity of external callus, and OCS induced the primary bone healing.
RESUMO
Demineralized bone allografts and mesenchymal stromal cells have been used to promote bone regeneration. However, the degree to which cortical bone should be demineralized for use in combination with adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (Ad-MSCs) remains to be clarified. In this study, the in vitro osteogenic ability of Ad-MSCs on allografts was investigated in relation to the extent of demineralization. Three treatment groups were established by varying exposure time to 0.6 N HCL: partially demineralized (PDB; 12 h), fully demineralized (FDB; 48 h), and non-demineralized bone (NDB; 0 h, as a control). Allografts were prepared as discs 6 mm in diameter for in vitro evaluation, and their demineralization and structure were evaluated by micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Ad-MSC adhesion and proliferation were measured by MTS assay, and osteogenesis-related gene expression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. PDB and FDB demineralization rates were 57.13 and 92.30%, respectively. Moreover, Ad-MSC adhesion rates on NDB, PDB, and FDB were 53.41, 60.65, and 61.32%, respectively. Proliferation of these cells on FDB increased significantly after 2 days of culture compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, expression of the osteogenic genes ALP, BMP-7, and TGF-ß in the FDB group on culture day 3 was significantly elevated in comparison to the other treatments. Given its biocompatibility and promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of Ad-MSCs, our results suggest that FDB may be a suitable scaffold for use in the repair of bone defects.
