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Published on: August 13, 2019
Combining Bone Collagen Matrix with hUC-MSCs for Application to Alveolar Process Cleft in a Rabbit Model
Xue-Cheng Sun1,2, Hu Wang1,3, Dan Zhang1,3
1Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China.
Background:
Most materials used clinically for filling severe bone defects either cannot induce bone re-generation or exhibit low bone conversion, therefore, their therapeutic effects are limited. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) exhibit good osteoinduction. However, the mechanism by which combining a heterogeneous bone collagen matrix with hUC-MSCs to repair the bone defects of alveolar process clefts remains unclear.
Methods:
A rabbit alveolar process cleft model was established by removing the bone tissue from the left maxillary bone. Forty-eight young Japanese white rabbits (JWRs) were divided into normal, control, material and MSCs groups. An equal volume of a bone collagen matrix alone or combined with hUC-MSCs was implanted in the defect. X-ray, micro-focus computerized tomography (micro-CT), blood analysis, histochemical staining and TUNEL were used to detect the newly formed bone in the defect area at 3 and 6 months after the surgery.
Results:
The bone formation rate obtained from the skull tissue in MSCs group was significantly higher than that in control group at 3 months (P < 0.01) and 6 months (P < 0.05) after the surgery. The apoptosis rate in the MSCs group was significantly higher at 3 months after the surgery (P < 0.05) and lower at 6 months after the surgery (P < 0.01) than those in the normal group.
Conclusions:
Combining bone collagen matrix with hUC-MSCs promoted the new bone regeneration in the rabbit alveolar process cleft model through promoting osteoblasts formations and chondrocyte growth, and inducing type I collagen formation and BMP-2 generation.
