Collagen barrier membranes decrease osteoclastogenesis in murine bone marrow cultures

Collagen barrier membranes (CBM) are used for guided bone regeneration to support the process of graft consolidation. It remains, unknown however, whether CBM can affect the consolidation of bone grafts by controlling the differentiation of progenitor cells into bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts.

To gain an insight into the underlying mechanisms, we performed in vitro bone marrow cultures on CBM (Bio-Gide under conditions that favor osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis, respectively. Measures of osteoclastogenesis were based on the number of tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells. Resorption assays revealed the activity of mature osteoclasts. Osteoblastogenesis was determined by alkaline-phosphatase activity. Viability was investigated utilizing the MTT assay.

Cultivation of murine bone marrow on CBM reduced the number of TRAP+ multinucleated cells compared with cultures on tissue culture plates. Inhibition of osteoclastogenesis was observed on the porous and the dense CBM surfaces. The majority of TRAP+ cells were mononucleated and the decreased osteoclastogenesis was not due to changes in cell viability. Furthermore, CBM are inert regarding the resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. Moreover, osteoblastogenesis was not reduced when bone marrow cells were grown on the surface of CBM.

These in vitro findings demonstrate that CBM can reduce the formation but not the activity of multinucleated osteoclasts. Our data further reveal that the formation of osteogenic cells from their progenitors is not reduced by the CBM. Overall, our results suggest that the beneficial effects of CBM during graft consolidation may involve their direct impact on osteoclastogenesis.