Degradable hydrogels for spatiotemporal control of mesenchymal stem cells localized at decellularized bone allografts

The transplantation of cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has numerous applications in the field of regenerative medicine. For cell transplantation strategies to be successful therapeutically, cellular localization and persistence must be controlled to maximize cell-mediated contributions to healing. Herein, we demonstrate that hydrolytic degradation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels can be used to spatiotemporally control encapsulated MSC localization to decellularized bone allografts, both in vitro and in vivo. By altering the number of hydrolytically degradable lactide repeat units within PEG-d,l-lactide-methacrylate macromers, a series of hydrogels was synthesized that degraded over ∼1, 2 and 3 weeks. MSCs were encapsulated within these hydrogels formed around decellularized bone allografts, and non-invasive, longitudinal fluorescence imaging was used to track cell persistence both in vitro and in vivo. Spatiotemporal localization of MSCs to the exterior of bone allograft surfaces was similar to in vitro hydrogel degradation kinetics despite hydrogel mesh sizes being ∼2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than MSC size throughout the degradation process. Thus, localized, cell-mediated degradation and MSC migration from the hydrogels are suspected, particularly as ∼10% of the total transplanted MSC population was shown to persist in close proximity (within ∼650 μm) to grafts 7 weeks after complete hydrogel degradation. This work demonstrates the therapeutic utility of PEG-based hydrogels for controlling spatiotemporal cell transplantation for a myriad of regenerative medicine strategies.     

Runx2重组慢病毒感染骨髓间充质干细胞并促进其成骨分化的研究

目的　利用重组Runx2基因的慢病毒感染大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）,使其Runx2基因的表达水平提高,观察BMSCs成骨相关基因的表达情况,研究Runx2基因促进BMSCs的成骨分化情况。 方法　PCR扩增Runx2基因,并连接到慢病毒表达载体质粒Pez-lv201,与包装质粒共转染293T细胞进行包装,测得慢病毒液滴度。取4周龄SD大鼠胫骨,分离、培养BMSCs,流式细胞仪鉴定。将Runx2重组慢病毒感染BMSCs。显微镜下观察细胞形态变化;RT-PCR分析BMSCs成骨基因的表达情况。 结果　Runx2基因重组慢病毒表达载体质粒酶切和测序鉴定正确。测得慢病毒液滴度为1.6×109 TU/ml。流式细胞仪检测表面抗原CD90和CD105,表达率为99.8%、99.3%。重组慢病毒感染后实验组细胞形态呈成骨样细胞改变;对照组未见明显变化。实验组Runx2、OCN、osteonectin、ALP、BMP-2、OPN基因的表达水平随时间推移而增高;对照组上述基因均无明显表达。 结论　利用Runx2重组慢病毒感染BMSCs,使其高表达Runx2基因,可以使OCN、osteonectin、ALP、BMP-2、OPN基因表达增强,说明Runx2基因可以促进BMSCs向成骨方向分化。     

骨髓间充质干细胞向雪旺细胞诱导分化方法的研究进展

细胞移植技术治疗周围神经损伤已成为新兴的组织工程学研究热点。骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs),由于其具有扩增快、便于分离提纯、可以体外诱导分化成为雪旺细胞(SC)的特性,有可能成为雪旺细胞的有效替代品和组织T程化神经的新型种子细胞。就种子细胞雪旺细胞和骨髓间充质干细胞的生理功能、生物学特性、体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞生成雪...     

人骨形成蛋白7修饰骨髓间充质干细胞复合仿生型支架材料的体内成骨研究

目的 应用携带人骨形成蛋白7(hBMP7)基因的兔骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)与仿生型生物玻璃-胶原-透明质酸-磷脂酰丝氨酸(BG-COL-HYA-PS)支架材料复合培养,植入兔桡骨缺损模型中观察其在体内成骨的能力.方法 携带hBMP7基因或增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因的2型重组腺相关病毒(rAAV2)载体在体外分别转染兔BMSC,再将转染后和未转染的兔BMSC分别与BG-COL-HYA-PS支架材料复合培养7 d后植入3组兔桡骨缺损模型,每组6只兔.各组在分别术后8周、12周通过大体标本观察、影像学、组织学等方法观察骨缺损的修复情况.以正常兔桡骨为对照组(n=3),术后12周比较各组骨缺损修复组织生物力学差异.结果 rAAV2-hBMP7转染的兔BMSC与BG-COL-HYA-PS复合支架材料有良好的生物相容性,植入兔桡骨缺损模型内表现出明确的成骨能力和骨修复能力,而形成的新骨最大压力载荷值低于正常桡骨组织[(188.46±12.24)N比(203.25±19.29)N,P＜0.05].结论 用hBMP7修饰BMSC复合仿生型BG-COL-HYA-PS支架材料构建的组织工程骨具有较强的骨修复能力,但形成的新生骨组织与正常骨组织比较仍然有早期生物力学方面的不足.     

Surface topography enhances differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards osteogenic and adipogenic lineages

Surface topography impacts on cell growth and differentiation, but it is not trivial to generate defined surface structures and to assess the relevance of specific topographic parameters. In this study, we have systematically compared in vitro differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on a variety of groove/ridge structures. Micro- and nano-patterns were generated in polyimide using reactive ion etching or multi beam laser interference, respectively. These structures affected cell spreading and orientation of human MSCs, which was also reflected in focal adhesions morphology and size. Time-lapse demonstrated directed migration parallel to the nano-patterns. Overall, surface patterns clearly enhanced differentiation of MSCs towards specific lineages: 15 μm ridges increased adipogenic differentiation whereas 2 μm ridges enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Notably, nano-patterns with a periodicity of 650 nm increased differentiation towards both osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. However, in absence of differentiation media surface structures did neither induce differentiation, nor lineage-specific gene expression changes. Furthermore, nanostructures did not affect the YAP/TAZ complex, which is activated by substrate stiffness. Our results provide further insight into how structuring of tailored biomaterials and implant interfaces – e.g. by multi beam laser interference in sub-micrometer scale – do not induce differentiation of MSCs per se, but support their directed differentiation.     

胚胎干细胞向成骨、软骨细胞定向分化研究进展

骨、软骨组织工程的热点之一是寻找合适的种子细胞.胚胎干细胞因具有全能性和无限增殖的能力有望成为组织工程中的种子细胞新来源.主要介绍了胚胎干细胞定向诱导分化为成骨、软骨细胞研究所取得的进展,并展望了胚胎干细胞作为组织工程种子细胞的前景和所面临的困难.     

脂肪干细胞成骨分化的研究进展

创伤或肿瘤导致的骨缺损是骨科、整形修复科、口腔颌面外科等科室的常见疾病,现有的治疗手段均有一定局限性。脂肪干细胞(ASC)是来自脂肪组织的多能干细胞,基于ASC的干细胞疗法和骨组织工程,为骨缺损的修复和再生提供了新的思路。ASC成骨分化是多种基因、蛋白和信号通路相互作用的复杂过程,其中Runx2和Osterix、Wnt、骨形成蛋白、Notch、成纤维细胞生长因子、环磷腺苷/蛋白激酶A、Hedgehog、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶等均扮演了重要角色。体外化学诱导ASC的成骨分化已经非常成熟,利用细胞共培养和各种支架也可诱导ASC的成骨分化。验证ASC分化成骨的方法包括茜素红染色和相关基因与蛋白的检测。影响ASC成骨分化的因素包括供体种属、年龄、脂肪获取部位等供体因素,培养液糖浓度、ASC的代数、冻存等实验因素,血管内皮细胞生长因子、生长分化因子、胰岛素样生长因子、转化生长因子β、尼尔样1型分子、LIM矿化蛋白1、低氧诱导因子1、肿瘤坏死因子α、干扰素γ、IL-6等生长因子,糖皮质激素、雌激素、胰岛素、褪黑素、瘦素等激素,一氧化氮、组蛋白H1、白藜芦醇、曲古抑菌素A、小檗碱、硼替佐米、阿司匹林、辛伐他汀等化学因子及药物,电磁场和超声波等物理因素,拉伸力和剪切力等生物力学因素,钙、锌、锂、锶、硒等金属或非金属离子,微小RNA以及富血小板血清和富血小板纤维蛋白、降钙素基因相关肽、中药和咖啡因等其他因素。本文总结了ASC成骨分化的过程,分析了相关基因和信号通路,回顾了诱导和验证方法,讨论了主要影响因素及其机制,并展望了未来研究方向。     

Precipitation of nanohydroxyapatite on PLLA/PBLG/Collagen nanofibrous structures for the differentiation of adipose derived stem cells to osteogenic lineage

Tissue engineering and nanotechnology have enabled engineering of nanostructured materials to meet the current challenges in bone treatment owing to rising occurrence of bone diseases, accidental damages and defects. Poly(l-lactic acid)/Poly-benzyl-l-glutamate/Collagen (PLLA/PBLG/Col) scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning and nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA) was deposited by calcium-phosphate dipping method for bone tissue engineering (BTE). The abundance and accessibility of adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) may prove to be novel cell therapeutics for bone repair and regeneration. ADSCs were cultured on these scaffolds and were induced to undergo osteogenic differentiation in the presence of PBLG/n-HA for BTE. The cell-biomaterial interactions were analyzed using cell proliferation, SEM and CMFDA dye extraction techniques. Osteogenic differentiation of ADSC was confirmed using alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), mineralization (ARS) and dual immunofluorescent staining using both ADSC marker protein and Osteocalcin, which is a bone specific protein. The utmost significance of this study is the bioactive PBLG/n-HA biomolecule introduced on the polymeric nanofibers to regulate and improve specific biological functions like adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of ADSC into osteogenic lineage. This was evident from the immunostaining and CMFDA images of ADSCs showing cuboidal morphology, characteristic of osteogenic lineage. The observed results proved that the PLLA/PBLG/Col/n-HA scaffolds promoted greater osteogenic differentiation of ADSC as evident from the enzyme activity and mineralization profiles for bone tissue engineering.     

人脐静脉来源的间质干细胞体外分离扩增及多向分化的研究

目的： 探讨人脐静脉来源的间质干细胞(MSCs) 的体外分离、纯化、扩增和多向分化条件。 方法： 无菌条件下取正常人脐静脉,1%胶原酶Ⅱ消化脐静脉细胞，以IMDM作为培养基进行培养和纯化细胞，瑞氏染色和电镜观察形态；FACS检测其免疫表型和细胞周期；体外诱导成骨细胞、脂肪细胞分化，von Kossa染色、油红O染色和RT-PCR检测骨钙蛋白、脂蛋白脂酶mRNA的表达以检测细胞向成骨、成脂肪细胞分化情况。 结果： 脐静脉来源的细胞呈纤维样贴壁生长，瑞氏染色和电镜观察具有MSCs特征；FACS检测结果显示, 表达MSCs相关的抗原CD29、CD44、CD105，而CD31、CD13、CD34、CD45、HLA-DR为阴性；体外诱导成骨细胞、脂肪细胞分化成功。 结论： 人脐静脉来源的MSCs的细胞形态、生长特性、免疫表型、多向分化能力与骨髓来源的MSCs相似，可作为满足实验和临床需要的MSCs来源。     

The effect of licochalcone A on cell-aggregates ECM secretion and osteogenic differentiation during bone formation in metaphyseal defects in ovariectomized rats

Treatment of weight-bearing bones fractures with defects is critical for patients with osteoporosis's rehabilitation. Although various tissue engineering methods were reported, the best treating strategy for tissue engineering remains to be identified as the limitation of enhancing the ability of the osteogenetic differentiation potential of seed cell is one of the cardinal issues to be solved. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of applying licochalcone-A (L-A) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)-aggregate in bone repairing tissue engineering and further study the biological effects of L-A on the cell aggregate formation and osteogenic properties. 80 female Sprague Dawley rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy were made with a 3.5 mm femurs bone defects without any fixation. These rats were then randomly assigned to five different treatment groups: (1) empty defect (n = 16), (2) CA-LA (n = 16), (3) CA-N (n = 16), (4) CA-L (n = 16), (5) CA-S (n = 16) and 16 female SD rats were treated as a control. Data showed that L-A administrated cell aggregate had a stronger osteogenic differentiation and mineralized formation potential than non-administrated group both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro study, L-A administrated group had a more significant expression of ECM, osteogenic associated maker in addition with more mineralized area and higher ALP activity compared with the control group. For in vivo study, 3D reconstruction of micro-CT, HE staining and bone strength results showed that newly formed bone in groups administrated by L-A was significant higher than that in Sham group at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after transplantation, especially for groups which was systematically injected with L-A at 8 weeks. Results of our study demonstrated that LA could positively affect cell behavior in cell-aggregate engineering and could be a promising strategy in treating osteoporotic weight-bearing bones fractures with defects.     

人脐带间充质干细胞研究进展及应用

人脐带间充质干细胞是一类具有自我更新和多向分化潜能的成体干细胞。随着细胞技术的提高,人们对于脐带间充干细胞的研究越发深入,在医学的各个领域都取得了长足的进步,如脐带间充质干细胞分离技术及脐带间充质干细胞的诱导分化技术。本文就脐带间充质干细胞的生物学特性、诱导分化潜能、免疫原性进行综述,重点讨论其最新的临床应用。     

骨髓间充质干细胞分化为心肌样细胞的实验研究

目的通过体外诱导研究大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞向心肌样细胞的分化,为心衰的干细胞移植治疗提供实验依据。方法分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,采用5-氮杂胞苷定向诱导,通过形态学、免疫细胞化学及磷钨酸苏木素染色(PTAH)鉴定。结果诱导后细胞以梭形、柱状为主;部分细胞有分支,核一个、卵圆形、居中,类似心肌细胞形态;诱导24h后培养2周,Sarcomeric Actin和Connexin-43表达较弱,以后表达逐渐增强;诱导细胞PTAH阳性。结论骨髓间充质干细胞能在体外被诱导分化为心肌样细胞,有望成为心衰时干细胞移植治疗的理想细胞材料。     

Effects of tricalcium silicate cements on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Tricalcium silicate cements have been successfully employed in the biomedical field as bioactive bone and dentin substitutes, with widely acclaimed osteoactive properties. This research analyzed the effects of different tricalcium silicate cement formulations on the temporal osteoactivity profile of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMW-MSCs). These cells were exposed to four commercially available tricalcium silicate cement formulations in osteogenic differentiation medium. After 1, 3, 7 and 10 days, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to detect expression of the target osteogenic markers ALP, RUNX2, OSX, OPN, MSX2 and OCN. After 3, 7, 14 and 21 days, alkaline phosphatase assay was performed to detect changes in intracellular enzyme level. An Alizarin Red S assay was performed after 28 days to detect extracellular matrix mineralization. In the presence of tricalcium silicate cements, target osteogenic markers were downregulated at the mRNA and protein levels at all time points. Intracellular alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels and extracellular mineralization of the experimental groups were not significantly different from the untreated control. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed increases in downregulation of RUNX2, OSX, MSX2 and OCN with increasing time of exposure to the tricalcium silicate cements, while ALP showed peak downregulation at day 7. For Western blotting, OSX, OPN, MSX2 and OCN showed increased downregulation with increased exposure time to the tested cements. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels generally declined after day 7. Based on these results, it is concluded that tricalcium silicate cements do not induce osteogenic differentiation of hBM-MSCs in vitro.     

A functional biphasic biomaterial homing mesenchymal stem cells for in vivo cartilage regeneration

Cartilage regeneration after trauma is still a great challenge for clinicians and researchers due to many reasons, such as joint load-bearing, synovial movement and the paucity of endogenous repair cells. To overcome these limitations, we constructed a functional biomaterial using a biphasic scaffold platform and a bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-specific affinity peptide. The biphasic scaffold platform retains more cells homogeneously within the sol–gel transition of chitosan and provides sufficient solid matrix strength. This biphasic scaffold platform is functionalized with an affinity peptide targeting a cell source of interest, BMSCs. The presence of conjugated peptide gives this system a biological functionality towards BMSC-specific homing both in vitro and in vivo. The functional biomaterial can stimulate stem cell proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation during in vitro culture. Six months after in vivo implantation, compared with routine surgery or control scaffolds, the functional biomaterials induced superior cartilage repair without complications, as indicated by histological observations, magnetic resonance imaging and biomechanical properties. Beyond cartilage repair, this functional biphasic scaffold may provide a biomaterial framework for one-step tissue engineering strategy by homing endogenous cells to stimulate tissue regeneration.     

Limited but heterogeneous osteogenic response of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to bone morphogenetic protein-2 and serum

Although there are numerous reports describing the in vivo bone forming capability of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins-2 (rhBMP-2), studies have reported limited effects on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). However, the reasons for these discrepancies are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the responsiveness of hMSCs to osteoinductive signals, focusing on rhBMP-2 and the effect of serum on that responsiveness. Human MSCs from six donors were analysed. When those cells were treated with osteoinduction medium including dexamethasone (Dex), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities increased in all cell lines. On the other hand, rhBMP-2-containing medium failed to increase ALP activity. When five different sera were used for cultivation and induction with rhBMP-2, ALP activities increased in two of them, but not in the others. The expression of BMP-2 antagonist noggin was induced in almost all combinations regardless of the responsiveness to rhBMP-2. On the other hand, the expression of follistatin showed significant variations depending on the serum and cell line. However, the expression did not correlate with the responsiveness to rhBMP-2. The results from this study showed limited but heterogeneous osteogenic response of hMSCs to rhBMP-2 and that the results are affected by the choice of serum. This fact should be concerned for the successful and effective clinical application of rhBMP-2.     

In vivo osteogenic differentiation of human turbinate mesenchymal stem cells in an injectable in situ-forming hydrogel

Human turbinate mesenchymal stromal cells (hTMSCs) are an alternate source of adult stem cells for regenerative medicine. In this work, we demonstrated that hTMSCs are easily harvested from turbinate tissue using a minimal surgical procedure. hTMSCs showed positive expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers and proliferated at a high rate. The specific surface proteins of harvested hTMSCs were relatively tolerant of ex vivo manipulation in culture. hTMSCs exhibited osteogenic differentiation in vitro in the presence of osteogenic factors. To examine osteogenic differentiation of hTMSCs in vivo in an injectable hydrogel, cells were incorporated into a methoxy polyethylene glycol–polycaprolactone block copolymer (MPEG–PCL (MP)) solution simply by mixing. hTMSC-loaded MP solutions exhibited a temperature-dependent solution-to-gel phase transition. The hTMSC attached and grew well on in vitro- and in vivo-formed MP hydrogels. hTMSC-loaded MP solutions formed a hydrogel almost immediately upon injection into animals and the cells remained viable, even after 12 weeks. Injected hTMSCs in in situ-formed MP hydrogels differentiated into osteogenic cells, mainly in the presence of osteogenic factors. Differentiated osteoblasts were identified by Alizarin Red S, von Kossa, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and osteonectin, osteopontin, and osteocalcin mRNA expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show hTMSCs undergoing osteogenic differentiation in in vivo-formed MP hydrogels. In conclusion, hTMSCs could serve as adult stem cell sources and, when embedded in an in situ-formed hydrogel, may provide numerous benefits as a noninvasive alternative for bone tissue engineering applications.     

米醇溶蛋白及壳聚糖共混合膜对骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化的影响

BACKGROUND: Some scholars have prepared zein/chitosan composite membrane based on blending methods, and preliminary evaluation of its physical and chemical properties shows that chitosan partly improves the mechanical properties and hydrophilic properties of zein. Therefore, zein/chitosan composite membrane presumably has good cytocompatibility, which is beneficial to osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.