Objective To review the research progress on the role of Schwann cells in regulating bone regeneration. MethodsThe domestic and foreign literature about the behavior of Schwann cells related to bone regeneration, multiple tissue repair ability, nutritional effects of their neurotrophic factor network, and their application in bone tissue engineering was extensively reviewed. ResultsAs a critical part of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells regulate the expression level of various neurotrophic factors and growth factors through the paracrine effect, and participates in the tissue regeneration and differentiation process of non-neural tissues such as blood vessels and bone, reflecting the nutritional effect of neural-vascular-bone integration. ConclusionTaking full advantage of the multipotent differentiation ability of Schwann cells in nerve, blood vessel, and bone tissue regeneration may provide novel insights for clinical application of tissue engineered bone.
OBJECTIVE This experimental study was aim to investigate the osteogenesis of ceramic-like xenogeneic bone (CXB) combining with bone marrow (BM). METHODS The CXB combining BM was implanted into the sacrospinalis muscle of rabbits, and CXB implanted alone was used as control. Eighteen Japanese rabbits with long ear were used. The size of CXB was 5 mm x 5 mm x 5 mm, and the implanted materials were taken out at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 weeks after implantation. The histological and histochemical characteristics were investigated. RESULTS There existed cartilage and new bone in the groups of CXB combining BM in 2 weeks. Later, be cartilage turned out to the bone and in eight weeks the medullary cavity appeared. However, as the time went on, new bone formation increased and typical osteogenesis could be found. While in the groups of CXB alone, no formation of new bone or cartilage was found. CONCLUSION The implantation of CXB combined with BM could result in new bone formation in the way of osteoconduation, osteoinduction, and providing, osteoblasts or chondroblasts. It could be an ideal bone substitute, and its clinical use in future seemed very hopeful.
Objective Tissue engineered bone (TEB) lacks of an effective and feasible method of storage and transportation. To evaluate the activity of osteogenesis and capabil ity of ectopic osteogenesis for TEB after freeze-dried treatment in vitro and in vivo and to explore a new method of preserving and transporting TEB. Methods Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and decalcified bone matrix (DBM) were harvested from bone marrow and bone tissue of the healthy donators. TEB was fabricated with the 3rd passage hBMSCs and DBM, and they were frozen and dried at extremely low temperatures after 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 15 days of culture in vitro to obtain freeze-dried tissue engineered bone (FTEB). TEB and FTEB were observed by gross view and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Western blot was used to detect the changes of relative osteogenic cytokines, including bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and insul in-l ike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) between TEB and FTEB. The ectopic osteogenesis was evaluated by the methods of X-ray, CT score, and HE staining after TEB and FTEB were transplanted into hypodermatic space in athymic mouse. Results SEM showed that the cells had normal shape in TEB, and secretion of extracellular matrix increased with culture time; in FTEB, seeding cells were killed by the freeze-dried process, and considerable extracellular matrix were formed in the pore of DBM scaffold. The osteogenic cytokines (BMP-2, TGF-β1, and IGF-1) in TEB were not decreased after freeze-dried procedure, showing no significant difference between TEB and FTEB (P gt; 0.05) except TGF-β1 15 days after culture (P lt; 0.05). The ectopic osteogenesis was observed in TEB and FTEB groups 8 and 12 weeks after transplantation, there was no significant difference in the calcified level of grafts between TEB and FTEB groups by the analysis of X-ray and CT score. On the contrary, there was no ectopic osteogenesis in group DBM 12 weeks after operation. HE staining showed that DBM scaffold degraded and disappeared 12 weeks after operation. Conclusion The osteogenic activity of TEB and FTEB is similar, which provides a new strategy to preserve and transport TEB.
Objective To examine the mRNA expression of activin A(ACT A) and follistatin(FS) during mandibular lengthening and to elucidate the regulating pattern of during mandibular distractionosteogenesis.Methods Skeletally mature-white New Zealand rabbits were established right mandibular distraction osteogenesis models and the mandibles were lengthened 7 days after osteomy. Atthe end of latency period and the end of distraction period, 10,20, 30, 40 and60 days after fixation, the regenerating tissue of animals’ lengthened mandibles and that of the other side normal mandibles were harvested to extract RNA andto analyse ACT A, FS mRNA by RT-PCR.Results The expression of ACT A mRNA was not detectable in normal bone tissue and ACT A mRNA began to express at the end of latency period. The expression of ACT AmRNA increased gradually along with the beginning of distraction and reached the peak on the 10th and 20th days of distraction which was 5.04 and 4.98 times as much as that of the end of latency period, respectively. The trend of expression of FS mRNA during mandibular distraction osteogenesis was the same as expression of ACT A mRNA. Conclusion ACT A/FS play an important role during rabbit mandibular distraction osteogenesis.
Objective To summarize the recent progress of cell-based approaches for promoting bone regeneration in distraction osteogenesis (DO). Methods Recent literature concerning enhancement of bone regeneration following DO using cell-based approaches was reviewed and analyzed. Results An overview of 4 different cell-based approaches was mainly provided: single cell injection, cell scaffold-based strategies/injectable tissue engineered bone, microtissue technology or cell aggregate technology, and stem cell gene therapy. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Other methods are still in the experimental research except that compound injection of bone marrow mesechymal stem cells and platelet-rich plasma has been applied to clinical practice. Conclusion The cell-based approach is a promising strategy in the field of bone regenerative medicine. These approaches have bright future in promoting bone regeneration and reducing the treatment period in DO in the clinical application. However, well-designed preclinical studies are required to establish safe and effective guidelines for cell-based approaches to promoting bone regeneration during DO.
Objective To investigate whether combining use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and decalcified bone matrix (DBM) has synergistic action on promoting bone consol idation and heal ing. Methods Forty male New Zealand rabbits (weighing 2.2-2.8 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). The whole blood was extracted from the central aural artery and PRP was prepared with the Landesberg’s method. An 1 cm-defect was made below the tibiofibular joint of the lefttibia through osteotomy. In group A, defect was repaired by distraction osteogenesis (1 cm); in group B, defect was repaired with 0.5 cm DBM and then by distraction osteogenesis (0.5 cm); in group C, defect was repaired by distraction osteogenesis (1 cm) and local injection of 1 mL PRP; in group D, defect was repaired by 0.5 cm DBM combined with 1 mL PRP and then by distraction osteogenesis (0.5 cm). Then lengthening started at 7 days after operation, at a rate of 1 mm/day and 0.5 mm every time for 10 days (groups A and C) or for 5 days (groups B and D). After the lengthening, the consolidation was performed. The X-ray films were taken at 0, 12, 17, 27, and 37 days after operation. At 37 days after operation, the tibial specimens were harvested for Micro-CT scanning, three-dimensional reconstruction and biomechanical test. Results The X-ray films showed that new bone formation in groups B and C was obviously better than that in groups A and D at 37 days. The bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone volume fraction (BVF) of groups B and C were significantly higher than those of groups A and D (P lt; 0.05); the BMD and BMC of group C were significantly higher than those of group B (P lt; 0.05); the BVF had no significant difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in BMD, BMC, and BVF between groups A and D (P gt; 0.05). The trabecula number (Tb.N) of group C was significantly more than that of other groups (P lt; 0.05), and the trabecula spacing (Tb.Sp) of group C was significantly smaller than that of other groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant differencewas found among other groups (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the trabecula thickness among 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). The ultimate angular displacement had no significant difference among 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). The maximum torque of groups B and C was significantly higher than that of groups A and D (P lt; 0.05); the maximum torque of group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P lt; 0.05); no significant difference was found between groups A and D (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion In the rabbit bone defect/lengthening model, local injection of PRP can enhance bone consol idation effectively during consol idation phase. In normal distraction rate, DBM can promote bone consol idation during distraction osteogenesis. In the early stage of distraction osteogenesis, combining use of DBM and PRP can not further promote bone consolidation and healing.
OBJECTIVE To testify the inductive osteogenesis of allogeneic bone matrix gelatin (BMG) in promoting intervertebral fusion. METHODS The gelatin sponge, allogeneic BMG, decalcified bone matrix (DBM) and alcohol conserved bone were implanted respectively into the intervertebral space of rabbit, whose intervertebral discs were removed before implantation. The intervertebral spaces were evaluated by X-ray and histological examination at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. RESULTS No obvious immune rejection was observed. Amounts of new bone were formed in the intervertebral spaces at 4 and 8 weeks. And complete infusion of the intervertebral spaces were appeared at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION Allogeneic BMG can promote bone fusion of intervertebral spaces through osteoinduction, which suggests that allogeneic BMP is an ideal substitute for bone replacement.
Objective To summarize the regulatory effect of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) on type H vessels angiogenesis of bone. Methods Recent domestic and foreign related literature about the regulation of ncRNA in type H vessels angiogenesis was widely reviewed and summarized. ResultsType H vessels is a special subtype of bone vessels with the ability to couple bone formation. At present, the research on ncRNA regulating type H vessels angiogenesis in bone diseases mainly focuses on microRNA, long ncRNA, and small interfering RNA, which can affect the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor 1α, platelet derived growth factor BB, slit guidance ligand 3, and other factors through their own unique ways of action, thus regulating type H vessels angiogenesis and participating in the occurrence and development of bone diseases. ConclusionAt present, the mechanism of ncRNA regulating bone type H vessels angiogenesis has been preliminarily explored. With the deepening of research, ncRNA is expected to be a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular related bone diseases.
Objective To study the mechanism of ectopic osteogenesis of nacre/Polylactic acid (N/P) artificial bone combined with allogenic osteoblasts, and to explore the possibility as a scaffold material of bone tissue engineering. Methods The allogenic- osteoblasts seeded onto N/P artificial bone were co-cultured in vivo 1 week.The N/P artificial bone with allogenic osteoblasts were implanted subcutaneously into the left back sites of the New Zealand white rabbits in the experimental group and the simple N/P artificial bone into the right ones in the control group. The complexes were harvested and examined by gross observation, histologic analysis and immunohistochemical investigation 2, 4 and 8 weeks after implantation respectively.Results In experimental group, the osteoid formed after 4 weeks, and the mature bone tissue withbone medullary cavities formed after 8 weeks; but in control group there was nonew bone formation instead of abundant fibrous tissue after 4 weeks, and more fibrous tissue after 8 weeks.Conclusion N/P artificial bone can be used as an optical scaffold material of bone tissue engineering.
Objective To investigate the mode and influential factor of newbone formation following distraction osteogenesis in mandibular lengthening. Methods Corticotomy was performed on bilateral mandibles in twelve adult male goats. A custommade distractor was used to lengthen the mandible at a rate of 1mm/day for 10 days (total 10 mm elongation). Four goats were sampled respectivelyat 2, 4 and 8 weeks after completion of distraction. The lengthening mandibles were examined by roentgenography and histology. Results Newly formed callus was observed in the distraction gap after mandibular lengthening. The new bone exhibited intramembranous ossification generally, but cartilage islands could be found in the specimen that diastractor loosed. Conclusion The above findings indicate that the mode of new bone formation in mandibular lengthening following distraction osteogenesis appears to be intramembranous ossification and that endochondral ossification takes place in case distractor has loosened.