Mandibular symphysis and ramus as sources of osteoblastic cells for bone tissue engineering

Autografts from mandibular symphysis and ramus are often used for bone reconstruction. Based on this, we hypothesized that these sites could be useful cell sources for bone tissue engineering approaches. Thus, our study aimed at evaluating the proliferation and osteoblast phenotype development of cells derived from mandibular symphysis and ramus.

Cells were isolated from bone fragments of four patients by enzymatic digestion and cultured under osteogenic condition for up to 17 days. Cultures were assayed for cell proliferation, gene expression of key bone markers runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5), SATB homeobox 2 (SATB2), Osterix (OSX), family with sequence similarity 20, member C (FAM20C), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and activity, and extracellular matrix mineralization. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA or t-test for independent samples when appropriate.

Cells derived from ramus displayed lower proliferative activity and higher gene expression of Runx2, DLX5, SATB2, OSX, FAM20C, BSP, OPN and OC, ALP protein expression and activity and extracellular matrix mineralization compared with symphysis-derived cells.

Symphysis and ramus may be considered as cell sources for bone tissue engineering approaches but due to the higher osteogenic potential, ramus-derived cells are more appealing for constructing cell-based biomaterials.