Effect of autogenous and fresh-frozen bone grafts on osteoblast differentiation

OBJECTIVE

Fresh-frozen bone allograft (FFBA) is an alternative to autogenous bone (AB) for reconstructing maxillary bone. Despite the promising clinical results, cell responses to FFBA and AB were not evaluated. Thus, our aim was to compare cells harvested from maxillary reconstructed sites with either AB or FFBA in terms of osteoblast differentiation and to evaluate the effect of culturing cells in contact with FFBA.

METHODS

Cells harvested from three patients submitted to bilateral maxillary reconstruction with AB and FFBA were cultured to evaluate: proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular matrix mineralization and gene expression of osteoblastic markers. The effect of FFBA on osteoblast differentiation was studied by culturing cells harvested from AB in contact with FFBA and evaluating the same parameters. Data were compared using either two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-b test or Student's t test (p≤0.05).

RESULTS

Cell proliferation was higher in cultures from AB grafted sites and extracellular matrix mineralization was higher in cultures derived from FFBA grafted sites. The gene expression of alkaline phosphatase, RUNX2, bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin was higher in cells derived from FFBA compared with cells from AB grafted sites. However, the exposure of cells derived from AB to FFBA particles did not have any remarkable effect on osteoblast differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate the higher osteogenic activity of cells derived from FFBA compared with AB reconstructed sites, offering an explanation at cellular level of why FFBA could be a suitable alternative to AB for reconstructing maxillary bone defects.

Nanotopography drives stem cell fate toward osteoblast differentiation through α1β1 integrin signaling pathway

The aim of our study was to investigate the osteoinductive potential of a titanium (Ti) surface with nanotopography, using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the mechanism involved in this phenomenon. Polished Ti discs were chemically treated with H2 SO4 /H2 O2 to yield nanotopography and rat MSCs were cultured under osteogenic and non-osteogenic conditions on both nanotopography and untreated polished (control) Ti surfaces. The nanotopography increased cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (Alp) activity and upregulated the gene expression of key bone markers of cells grown under both osteogenic and non-osteogenic conditions. Additionally, the gene expression of α1 and β1 integrins was higher in cells grown on Ti with nanotopography under non-osteogeneic condition compared with control Ti surface. The higher gene expression of bone markers and Alp activity induced by Ti with nanotopography was reduced by obtustatin, an α1β1 integrin inhibitor. These results indicate that α1β1 integrin signaling pathway determines the osteoinductive effect of nanotopography on MSCs. This finding highlights a novel mechanism involved in nanosurface-mediated MSCs fate and may contribute to the development of new surface modifications aiming to accelerate and/or enhance the process of osseointegration.

Hedgehog signaling and osteoblast gene expression are regulated by purmorphamine in human mesenchymal stem cells

Several biological events are controlled by Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, including osteoblast phenotype development. This study aimed at evaluating the gene expression profile of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) treated with the Hh agonist, purmorphamine, focusing on Hh signaling and osteoblast differentiation. hMSCs from bone marrow were cultured in non-osteogenic medium with or without purmorphamine (2 µM) for periods of up to 14 days. Purmorphamine up-regulated gene expression of the mediators of Hh pathway, SMO, PTCH1, GLI1, and GLI2. The activation of Hh pathway by purmorphamine increased the expression of several genes (e.g., RUNX2 and BMPs) related to osteogenesis. Our results indicated that purmorphamine triggers Hh signaling pathway in hMSCs, inducing an increase in the expression of a set of genes involved in the osteoblast differentiation program. Thus, we conclude that Hh is a crucial pathway in the commitment of undifferentiated cells to the osteoblast lineage.

Response of human alveolar bone-derived cells to a novel poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/barium titanate membrane

This study investigated the response of human alveolar bone-derived cells to a novel poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/barium titanate (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT) membrane. Osteoblastic cells were cultured in osteogenic conditions either on P(VDF-TrFE)/BT or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for up to 14 days. At 7 and 14 days, the mRNA expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Type I collagen (COL I), Osteopontin (OPN), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Bone sialoprotein (BSP), and Osteocalcin (OC), key markers of the osteoblastic phenotype, and of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Survivin (SUR), associated with the control of the apoptotic cell death, was assayed by real-time PCR. In situ ALP activity was qualitatively evaluated by means of Fast red staining. Surface characterization was also qualitatively and quantitatively assayed in terms of topography, roughness, and wettability. Cells grown on P(VDF-TrFE)/BT exhibited a significantly higher mRNA expression for all markers compared to the ones on PTFE, except for Bcl-2, which was not detected for both groups. Additionally, Fast red staining was noticeably stronger in cultures on P(VDF-TrFE)/BT at 7 and 14 days. At micron- and submicron scale, SEM images and roughness analysis revealed that PTFE and P(VDF-TrFE)/BT exhibited a smooth topography and a similar roughness, respectively. PTFE membrane displayed higher contact angles compared with P(VDF-TrFE)/BT, as indicated by wettability assay. The novel P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane supports the acquisition of the osteoblastic phenotype in vitro, while up-regulating the expression of apoptotic markers. Further in vivo experiments should be carried out to confirm the capacity of P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane in promoting bone formation in guided bone regeneration.

TAK-778 enhances osteoblast differentiation of human bone marrow cells via an estrogen-receptor-dependent pathway

TAK-778, a derivative of ipriflavone, has been shown to induce bone growth in in vitro and in vivo models. However, there are no studies evaluating by which mechanism TAK-778 exerts its effect. Considering the evidences that its precursors act via classical estrogen-receptor (ER)-mediated signaling, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TAK-778 induces osteogenesis in human bone marrow cell culture via an ER-dependent pathway. Cells were cultured in 24-well culture plates at a cell density of 2 x 10(4) cells/well in culture medium containing: TAK-778 (10(-5) M), Tamoxifen (10(-5) M), TAK-778 (10(-5) M) + Tamoxifen (10(-5) M), and vehicle. During the culture period, cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO(2) and 95% air. At 7, 14, and 21 days, cell proliferation, cell viability, total protein content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone-like formation were evaluated. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. TAK-778 did not affect cell viability. Cell number was reduced by TAK-778. Total protein content, ALP activity, and bone-like formation were increased by TAK-778. In general, Tamoxifen did not have any effect on cell behavior. However, when cells were cultured in medium containing both TAK-778 and Tamoxifen, the effect of TAK-778 on osteoblast differentiation was inhibited. The present results show that TAK-778 enhances osteoblast differentiation in human bone marrow cell culture, at least in part, via an ER-dependent pathway, since its effect was inhibited by Tamoxifen, a well-known estrogen receptor antagonist.

In vitro biocompatibility of duplex stainless steel with and without 0.2% niobium

Stainless steel is frequently used as a biomaterial. Chemical composition alterations can be undertaken to improve its mechanical and biological properties. This investigation aimed to compare the biocompatibility of duplex stainless steel, with and without 0.2% niobium, with austenitic stainless steel and titanium-6-aluminium-4-vanadium (Ti6Al4V) using rat bone marrow (RBM) cell culture. Cell attachment was evaluated at 24 hr. Cell proliferation, cell viability, total protein content, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated at 7, 14 and 21 days. Bone-like nodule formation was evaluated at 21 days. Cell attachment, proliferation and viability were unaffected by the chemical composition of the stainless steels and the Ti6Al4V. Total protein content, ALP activity, and bone-like nodule formation were unaffected by the chemical composition of the stainless steels, but these parameters were greater on the Ti6Al4V than on the stainless steels. Our results demonstrated that initial cell events were unaffected by the chemical composition of the tested alloys, while events indicating osteoblast differentiation including increased ALP activity and bone-like nodule formation were favored by the Ti6Al4V. Moreover, the evaluated parameters were unaffected by the presence of niobium in the stainless steel composition. As niobium affects microstructure and, consequently, improves the mechanical properties of duplex stainless steel, it is suggested that the addition of niobium to metallic alloys could be useful in developing alloys with acceptable biocompatibility and improved mechanical features. (Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2004; 2: 162-8).

Osseointegration and osseoconductivity of hydroxyapatite of different microporosities

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in microporosity and the osseointegration and the osseoconductivity of hydroxyapatite (HAp). HAp cylinders were manufactured by a combination of uniaxial powder pressing and different sintering conditions, with different percentages of microporosity: HAp-I with 3.96+/-0.75% microporosity, HAp-II with 15.66+/-1.60% microporosity, and HAp-III with 29.72+/-0.69% microporosity. These HAp cylinders were surgically implanted in rabbit femurs. After 8 and 12 weeks, the femurs were removed, fixed, sectioned, ground, and stained by Stevenel's blue/Van Gieson for light microscopy and histomorphometry. Some ground sections were routinely processed for SEM. The osseointegration and the osseoconductivity were determined by means of image analysis and the data were submitted to ANOVA. In all cases the cortical bone was repaired and the HAp facing the medullary canal was lined with endosteum, which in some areas exhibited thin bone tissue formation. SEM observations showed no differences in the morphology of tissue-HAp interfaces for the three different porosities of HAp. There were no statistical differences between the groups related to either osseointegration or osseoconductivity. These results suggest that neither osseointegration nor osseoconductivity of HAp are influenced by changes in HAp microporosity.