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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Use of Human Perivascular Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration
Published on: May 25, 2012
Healing of Bone Defects in Pig's Femur Using Mesenchymal Cells Originated from the Sinus Membrane with Different
Rita Bou Assaf1, Kazem Zibara2,3, Mohammad Fayyad-Kazan2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Objective:
Repairing bone defects, especially in older individuals with limited regenerative capacity, is still a big challenge. The use of biomimetic materials that can enhance the restoration of bone structure represents a promising clinical approach. In this study, we evaluated ectopic bone formation after the transplantation of human maxillary Schneiderian sinus membrane- (hMSSM-) derived cells embedded within various scaffolds in the femur of pigs.
Methods:
The scaffolds used were collagen, gelatin, and hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/βTCP) where fibrin/thrombin was used as a control. Histological analysis was performed for the new bone formation. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to assess mRNA and protein levels of specific osteoblastic markers, respectively.
Results:
Histological analysis showed that the three scaffolds we used can support new bone formation with a more pronounced effect observed in the case of the gelatin scaffold. In addition, mRNA levels of the different tested osteoblastic markers Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX-2), osteonectin (ON), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and type 1 collagen (COL1) were higher, after 2 and 4 weeks, in cell-embedded scaffolds than in control cells seeded within the fibrin/thrombin scaffold. Moreover, there was a very clear and differential expression of RUNX-2, OCN, and vimentin in osteocytes, osteoblasts, hMSSM-derived cells, and bone matrix. Interestingly, the osteogenic markers were more abundant, at both time points, in cell-embedded gelatin scaffold than in other scaffolds (collagen, HA/βTCP, fibrin/thrombin).
Conclusions:
These results hold promise for the development of successful bone regeneration techniques using different scaffolds embedded with hMSSM-derived cells. This trial is registered with NCT02676921.
