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Updated: May 21, 2026

Sequential In vivo Imaging of Osteogenic Stem/Progenitor Cells During Fracture Repair
Published on: May 23, 2014
The dynamic changes of circulating OCN+ cells versus insulinlike growth factor-I during primary healing of
Xi Yang1, Xiao-an Tao, Jian-qiang Liang
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to determine the dynamic changes of circulating osteocalcin(+) (OCN(+)) cells and insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) in peripheral blood during early primary repair of jaw bones in patients with orthognathic surgery.
Study Design:
The expression of bone-related genes was detected by RT-PCR in circulating OCN(+) cells. The numbers of OCN(+) cells and serum level of IGF-I were determined by flow cytometry, immunocytochemical staining, and ELISA.
Results:
OCN(+) cells significantly increased in peripheral blood, and reached the peak at 1 to 2 weeks after surgery (P < .05). IGF-I in patients significantly decreased 1 week after surgery (P < .05), and then returned gradually to the normal level. There was no significant correlation between the number of circulating OCN(+) cells and the level of IGF-I (P > .05).
Conclusions:
These findings suggested that circulating OCN(+) cells, at least in part, could be mobilized in response to bone injury, and contribute to bone repair in patients with orthognathic surgery.
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