Human periodontal ligament stem cells cultured onto cortico-cancellous scaffold drive bone regenerative process

Eur Cell Mater. 2016 Sep 16:32:181-201. doi: 10.22203/ecm.v032a12.

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to test, in vitro and in vivo, a new tissue-engineered construct constituted by porcine cortico-cancellous scaffold (Osteobiol Dual Block) (DB) and xeno-free ex vivo culture of human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells (hPDLSCs). hPDLSCs cultured in xeno-free media formulation preserved the stem cells' morphological features, the expression of stemness and pluripotency markers, and their ability to differentiate into mesenchymal lineage. Transmission electron microscopy analysis suggested that after one week of culture, both noninduced and osteogenic differentiation induced cells joined and grew on DB secreting extracellular matrix (ECM) that in osteogenic induced samples was hierarchically assembled in fibrils. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) showed the upregulation of key genes involved in the bone differentiation pathway in both differentiated and undifferentiated hPDLSCs cultured with DB (hPDLSCs/DB). Functional studies revealed a significant increased response of calcium transients in the presence of DB, both in undifferentiated and differentiated cells stimulated with calcitonin and parathormone, suggesting that the biomaterial could drive the osteogenic differentiation process of hPDLSCs. These data were confirmed by the increase of gene expression of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ (VDCCL), subunits α1C and α2D1 in undifferentiated cells in the presence of DB. In vivo implantation of the hPDLSCs/DB living construct in the mouse calvaria evidenced a precocious osteointegration and vascularisation process. Our results suggest consideration of DB as a biocompatible, osteoinductive and osteoconductive biomaterial, making it a promising tool to regulate cell activities in biological environments and for a potential use in the development of new custom-made tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Bone Regeneration / genetics
  • Bone Regeneration / physiology*
  • Calcification, Physiologic / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Shape
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Osteogenesis / genetics
  • Periodontal Ligament / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / ultrastructure
  • Sus scrofa
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers