Osteogenic potential of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells as an alternative stem cell source

Adult bone marrow contains mesenchymal stem cells (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; BMSCs) which contribute to the generation of mesenchymal tissue such as bone, cartilage, muscle and adipose. However, using bone marrow as a source of stem cells has the limitation of a low cell number. An alternate source of adult stem cells that could be obtained in large quantities, under local anesthesia, with minimal discomfort would be advantageous. Human adipose tissue obtained by liposuction was processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells or adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSCs). In this study, we compared the osteogenic differentiation of ATSCs with that of BMSCs. Both cell types were cultured in atelocollagen honeycomb-shaped scaffolds with a membrane seal (ACHMS scaffold) for three-dimensional culturing in a specific osteogenic induction medium. Optimal osteogenic differentiation in both cell types, as determined by alkaline phosphatase cytochemistry, secretion of osteocalcin, mineral (calcium phosphate) deposition and scanning electron microscopy, was obtained with the same three-dimensional culture. Furthermore, osteoblastic lining in vivo was examined using ATSC-seeded or BMSC-seeded scaffolds in nude mice. The present results show that ATSCs have a similar ability to differentiate into osteoblasts to that of BMSCs.     

Comparison of proliferative and multilineage differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord and bone marrow

Human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) have been shown to have a high proliferative potential and the capacity to differentiate into an osteogenic phenotype. HUCPVCs have thus been considered a possible extra-embryonic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) source for cell-based therapies. To assess this potential, we compared HUCPVCs to the "gold standard" bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) with respect to their proliferation, differentiation, and transfection capacities. HUCPVCs showed a higher proliferative potential than BMSCs and were capable of osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation. Interestingly, osteogenic differentiation of HUCPVCs proceeded more rapidly than BMSCs. Additionally, HUCPVCs expressed higher levels of CD146, a putative MSC marker, relative to BMSCs. HUCPVCs showed comparable transfection efficiency as BMSCs using a nucleofection method but were more amenable to transfection with liposomal methods (FuGENE). Gene array analysis showed that HUCPVCs also expressed Wnt signaling pathway genes that have been implicated in the regulation of MSCs. The similar characteristics between HUCPVCs and MSCs support the applicability of HUCPVCs for cell-based therapies. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

Expansion and characterization of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells cultured with low serum medium

Adipose tissue contains a population of cells that have extensive self-renewal capacity and the ability to differentiate along multiple lineages. In addition, adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSCs) are able to differentiate into various cell types that may be useful for autologous cell transplantation for defects of bone, cartilage, adipose, and tendon, etc. Most protocols for in vitro cultures of ATSCs include fetal bovine serum (FBS) as a nutritional supplement. However, in some cell cultures, it involves multiple doses of FBS, which raises a concern over possible infections as well as immunological reactions that are caused by medium-derived FBS proteins, sialic acid, etc. In this study, we were able to expand mouse ATSCs using low mouse serum media containing collagen type I, heparin-carrying polystyrene, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2. These expanded mouse ATSCs maintained their multilineage potential for differentiation into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. Therefore, this method, which uses autologous cells and low serum media, may be able to be utilized for clinical cell therapies.     

Expression of telomerase extends the lifespan and enhances osteogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells

Expression of TERT, the catalytic protein subunit of the telomerase complex, can be used to generate cell lines that expand indefinitely and retain multilineage potential. We have created immortal adipose stromal cell lines (ATSCs) by stably transducing nonhuman primate-derived ATSCs with a retroviral vector expressing TERT. Transduced cells (ATSC-TERT) had an increased level of telomerase activity and increased mean telomere length in the absence of malignant cellular transformation. Long-term culture of the ATSC-TERT cells demonstrated that the cells retain the ability to undergo differentiation along multiple lineages such as adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic. Untransduced cells demonstrated markedly reduced multilineage and self-renewal potentials after 12 passages in vitro. To determine the functional role of telomerase during osteogenesis, we examined osteogenic differentiation potential of ATSC-TERT cells in vitro. Compared with naive ATSCs, which typically begin to accumulate calcium after 3-4 weeks of induction by osteogenic differentiation medium, ATSC-TERT cells were found to accumulate significant amounts of calcium after only 1 week of culture in osteogenic induction medium. The cells have increased production of osteoblastic markers, such as AP2, osteoblast-specific factor 2, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4, and the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, compared with control ATSCs, indicating that telomerase expression may aid in maintaining the osteogenic stem cell pool during in vitro expansion. These results show that ectopic expression of the telomerase gene in nonhuman primate ATSCs prevents senescence-associated impairment of osteoblast functions and that telomerase therapy may be a useful strategy for bone regeneration and repair.     

脂肪组织来源的干细胞的研究进展

来自中胚层的脂肪组织与骨髓组织一样含有大量能自我更新和多向系分化潜能的细胞群称为脂肪干细胞。其取材方便，来源丰富，可在体外稳定增殖传代。并与骨髓间充质干细胞有相似的多向分化表面标志CD105、STRO-1以及CD166受体。研究发现它具有多向系分化潜能，除可以分化为问充质来源的脂肪、骨，软骨、脂肪以及骨骼肌、心肌等细胞，也可诱导分化为来源于外胚层的神经细胞以及具有功能性的血管内皮细胞，用以修复骨、软骨、心肌、骨骼肌、血管以及神经等组织。其具有造血支持作用以及可被逆转录病毒、腺病毒以及慢病毒较高的转染效率等优点，可以作为基因转移良好的靶细胞。因而，脂肪来源的干细胞其有望成为组织工程、细胞治疗以及基因转染良好的种子细胞。     

Tissue-engineered bone formation using periosteal-derived cells and polydioxanone/pluronic F127 scaffold with pre-seeded adipose tissue-derived CD146 positive endothelial-like cells

The aim of this study was to generate tissue-engineered bone formation using periosteal-derived cells seeded into a polydioxanone/pluronic F127 (PDO/Pluronic F127) scaffold with adipose tissue-derived CD146 positive endothelial-like cells. Considering the hematopoietic and mesenchymal phenotypes of adipose tissue-derived cells cultured in EBM-2 medium, CD146 positive adipose tissue-derived cells was sorted to purify more endothelial cells in characterization. These sorted cells were referred to as adipose tissue-derived CD146 positive endothelial-like cells. Periosteum is a good source of osteogenic cells for tissue-engineered bone formation. Periosteal-derived cells were found to have good osteogenic capacity in a PDO/Pluronic F127 scaffold, which could provide a suitable environment for the osteoblastic differentiation of these cells. Through the investigation of capillary-like tube formation on matrigel and the cellular proliferation of adipose tissue-derived CD146 positive endothelial-like cells cultured in different media conditions, we examined these cells could be cultured in EBM-2 with osteogenic induction factors. We also observed that the osteogenic activity of periosteal-derived cells could be good in EBM-2 with osteogenic induction factors, in the early period of culture. The experimental results obtained in the miniature pig model suggest that tissue-engineered bone formation using periosteal-derived cells and PDO/Pluronic F127 scaffold with pre-seeded adipose tissue-derived CD146 positive endothelial-like cells can be used to restore the bony defects of the maxillofacial region when used in clinics.     

骨髓间充质干细胞联合3D生物打印技术治疗骨缺损的研究进展

骨缺损一直以来都是临床治疗中的难题,目前主要是行自体骨或人工骨移植治疗。但自体骨取骨的损伤和人工骨资源有限且价格昂贵使得骨移植手术在临床广泛应用受到限制。近年来国内外学者对骨髓间充质干细胞诱导分化成骨的研究愈加重视,对其分离提取和定向分化的研究取得了长足的进步。骨髓间充质干细胞可向成骨细胞、软骨细胞等分化且不存在排斥反应及伦理问题,其结合3D生物打印技术修复骨缺损具有精准化和可控性的优势,是一种极具潜力和应用前景的新型骨缺损修复技术。文章对骨髓间充质干细胞的生物学特性、成骨诱导及结合载体支架治疗骨缺损的研究进行阐述,为今后在骨缺损的临床治疗中提供理论依据。     

Comparison of human bone marrow stromal cells seeded on calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite,beta-tricalcium phosphate and demineralized bone matrix

The aim of this study was to compare three resorbable biomaterials regarding seeding efficacy with human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), cell penetration into the matrix, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), and demineralized bone matrix (DBM) were seeded with human BMSCs and kept in human serum and osteogenic supplements for 3 weeks. Morphologic and biochemical evaluations were performed on day 1, 7, 14 and 21. The allograft DBM and CDHA exhibited both an excellent seeding efficacy while the performance of beta-TCP was lower when compared. The total protein content and the values for specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased on all matrices and no significant difference was found for these two markers. BMSCs in monolayer had a significant increase of protein, but not of ALP. Osteocalcin (OC) values increased significantly higher for BMSC in cultures on DBM when compared to CDHA and beta-TCP. The OC levels decreased significantly in the BMSC monolayer culture. BMSCs were found inconsistently within the synthetic materials, whereas in DBM they were found more homogeneously distributed throughout the matrix. All three matrices promoted BMSC proliferation and differentiation to osteogenic cells. DBM allografts seem to be more favorable with respect to cell ingrowth tested by histology, and osteogenic differentiation ascertained by an increase of OC. CDHA with its high specific surface area showed more favorable properties than beta-TCP regarding reproducibility of the seeding efficacy.     

A collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffold supports adult rat mesenchymal stem cell differentiation along osteogenic and chondrogenic routes

Adult mesenchymal stem cells have the proclivity to differentiate along multiple lineages giving rise to new bone, cartilage, muscle, or fat. Collagen, a normal constituent of bone, provides strength and structural stability and is therefore a potential candidate for use as a substrate on which to engineer bone and cartilage from their respective mesenchymal-derived precursors. In this study, a collagen- glycosaminoglycan scaffold was used to provide a suitable three-dimensional (3-D) environment on which to culture adult rat mesenchymal stem cells and induce differentiation along the osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages. The results demonstrate that adult rat mesenchymal stem cells can undergo osteogenesis when grown on the collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffold and stimulated with osteogenic factors (dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, beta-glycerophosphate), as evaluated by the temporal induction of the bone-specific proteins, collagen I and osteocalcin, and subsequent matrix mineralization. The osteogenic factors were coupled to activation of the extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK), and this kinase was found to play a role in the osteogenic process. As well as supporting osteogenesis, when the cell-seeded scaffold was exposed to chondrogenic factors (dexamethasone and TGF-1beta), collagen II immunoreactivity was increased, providing evidence that the scaffold can also provide a suitable 3-D environment that supports chondrogenesis.     

Effect of Anatomical Origin and Cell Passage Number on the Stemness and Osteogenic Differentiation Potential of Canine Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells have a great potential for application in cell based therapies, such as tissue engineering. Adipose derived stem cells have shown the capacity to differentiate into several lineages, and have been isolated in many animal species. Dog is a very relevant animal model to study several human diseases and simultaneously an important subject in veterinary medicine. Thus, in this study we assessed the potential of canine adipose tissue derived stem cells (cASCs) to differentiate into the osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages by performing specific histological stainings, and studied the cell passaging effect on the cASCs stemness and osteogenic potential. We also evaluated the effect of the anatomical origin of the adipose tissue, namely from abdominal subcutaneous layer and from greater omentum. The stemness and osteogenic differentiation was followed by real time RT-PCR analysis of typical markers of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts. The results obtained revealed that cASCs exhibit a progressively decreased expression of the MSCs markers along passages and also a decreased osteogenic differentiation potential. In the author??s knowledge, this work presents the first data about the MSCs markers profile and osteogenic potential of cASCs along cellular expansion. Moreover, the obtained data showed that the anatomical origin of the adipose tissue has an evident effect in the differentiation potential of the ASCs. Due to the observed resemblances with the human ASCs, we conclude that canine ASCs can be used as a model cells in tissue engineering research envisioning human applications.     

Enhancement of tissue engineered bone formation by a low pressure system improving cell seeding and medium perfusion into a porous scaffold

To obtain more extensive bone formation in composites of porous ceramics and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), we hypothesized that a low-pressure system would serve to facilitate the perfusion of larger number of BMSCs into the porous scaffold, enhancing bone formation within the composites. After culturing BMSCs in osteogenic medium, porous blocks of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) were soaked in the cell suspension. Composites of the block and BMSCs were put immediately into a vacuum desiccator. Low pressure was applied to the low pressure group, while controls were left at atmospheric pressure. Composites were incubated in vitro or subcutaneously implanted into syngeneic rats, then analyzed biologically and histologically. In the in vitro group, cell suspension volume, cell seeding efficiency, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and DNA content in the beta-TCP blocks were significantly higher in low pressure group than in the controls. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that a greater number of cells covered the central parts of the composites in the low pressure group. ALP activity in the composites was increased at 3 and 6 weeks after implantation into rats. Histomorphometric analysis revealed more uniform and extensive bone formation in the low pressure group than in the controls. The application of low pressure during the seeding of BMSCs in perfusing medium into a porous scaffold is useful for tissue-engineered bone formation.     

Ectopic bone regeneration by human bone marrow mononucleated cells, undifferentiated and osteogenically differentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in beta-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds

Tissue engineering approaches using the combination of porous ceramics and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) represent a promising bone substitute for repairing large bone defects. Nevertheless, optimal conditions for constructing tissue-engineered bone have yet to be determined. It remains unclear if transplantation of predifferentiated BMSCs is superior to undifferentiated BMSCs or freshly isolated bone marrow mononucleated cells (BMNCs) in terms of new bone formation in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of in vitro osteogenic differentiation (β-glycerophosphate, dexamethasone, and l-ascorbic acid) of human BMSCs on the capability to form tissue-engineered bone in unloaded conditions after subcutaneous implantation in nude mice. After isolation from human bone marrow aspirates, BMNCs were divided into three parts: one part was seeded onto porous beta-tricalcium phosphate ceramics immediately and transplanted in a heterotopic nude mice model; two parts were expanded in vitro to passage 2 before cell seeding and in vivo transplantation, either under osteogenic conditions or not. Animals were sacrificed for micro-CT and histological evaluation at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks postimplantation. The results showed that BMSCs differentiated into osteo-progenitor cells after induction, as evidenced by the altered cell morphology and elevated alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition, but their clonogenicity, proliferating rate, and seeding efficacy were not significantly affected by osteogenic differentiation, compared with undifferentiated cells. Extensive new bone formed in the pores of all the scaffolds seeded with predifferentiated BMSCs at 4 weeks after implantation, and maintained for 20 weeks. On the contrary, scaffolds containing undifferentiated BMSCs revealed limited bone formation only in 1 out of 6 cases at 8 weeks, and maintained for 4 weeks. For scaffolds with BMNCs, woven bone was observed sporadically only in one case at 8 weeks. Overall, this study suggests that ectopic osteogenesis of cell/scaffold composites is more dependent on the in vitro expansion condition, and osteo-differentiated BMSCs hold the highest potential concerning in vivo bone regeneration.     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞成骨诱导分化的超微结构变化

背景：目前对骨髓间充质干细胞成骨诱导分化的超微结构观察的报道甚少。 目的：采用全骨髓贴壁法分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,成骨诱导并染色鉴定,利用电镜观察诱导前后细胞超微结构变化特点。 方法：全骨髓贴壁法体外分离、培养、纯化大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面标记物,成骨染色鉴定向成骨方向诱导分化,扫描电镜及透射电镜观察成骨诱导前后细胞超微结构变化。 结果与结论：培养的第3代骨髓间充质干细胞纯度高、活力强,成骨诱导后的碱性磷酸酶活性染色、钙化结节染色均呈阳性。扫描电镜及透射电镜观察显示,经向成骨细胞诱导分化后,细胞形态铺展,不规则,其线粒体、粗面内质网、空泡明显增多,表明细胞功能活跃。     

小鼠脂肪源和骨髓源间充质干细胞表面标记表达的比较

目的探讨小鼠脂肪源间充质干细胞(ADMSCs)和骨髓源间充质干细胞(BMSCs)表面标记表达的差异。方法分别对小鼠脂肪源和骨髓源间充质干细胞进行成骨、成脂、成心肌分化诱导、鉴定;流式细胞术与细胞免疫荧光法检测CD29、CD44、CD45和CD73的表达并进行比较。结果 BMSCs形态均一,呈长梭形;ADMSCs形态多样,呈梭形、星形、多角形等,胞体较大,表面分泌物较多;两者均可诱导分化为成骨细胞、脂肪细胞和心肌样细胞。流式细胞术检测显示,BMSCs表面分子CD29、CD44和CD73表达率分别为(83.43±1.97)%、(90.33±0.81)%、(2.63±0.42)%;ADMSCs表面分子CD29和CD44的表达率分别为(53.1±1.05)%、(34.8±2.1)%,CD73表达不稳定,在1.8%~19.7%之间波动。两种细胞均不表达造血干细胞标记物CD45。免疫荧光显示,CD73分子与部分CD29、CD44阳性细胞共表达。结论小鼠BMSCs和ADMSCs均具有成脂、成骨、成心肌分化能力,但是在形态上和分子表达上均存在差异。BMSCs的CD44和CD29表达高于ADMSCs;而CD73的表达则相反,CD73在两种细胞的表达均较低,在ADMSCs的表达不稳定。     

微重力对骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化的影响

骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）是一种多能成体于细胞,是组织工程重要的种子细胞来源之一.微重力对BMSCs成骨分化具有抑制作用,可使骨量减少和骨微结构改变,从而导致骨质疏松症.这一过程受到多条信号通路的调控,如MAPK信号通路、Notch信号通路和Wnt/β-catenin信号通路等,它们协同调节微重力下BMSCs向成骨细胞方向的分化.研究微重力对BMSCs成骨分化的影响,可以阐明骨质流失机理,为相关疾病的治疗提供新的靶点,促进我国太空宇航事业的发展.     

骨髓间充质干细胞向内皮细胞的分化和临床应用

背景：目前国内外研究初步证明,骨髓间充质干细胞可以诱导分化为血管内皮细胞。 目的：综述骨髓间充质干细胞向内皮细胞的分化和临床研究进展。 方法：应用计算机检索2000/2011 PubMed数据库相关文章,检索词为“bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell,endothelial cell,differentiation,tissue engineered”,并限定文章语言种类为English。同时计算机检索2000/2011万方数据库相关文章,检索词为“骨髓间充质干细胞,内皮细胞,分化,临床应用”,并限定文章语言种类为中文。共检索到文献418篇,最终纳入符合标准的文献31篇。 结果与结论：骨髓间充质干细胞具有自我更新和多向分化潜能,在一定的诱导条件下可以向血管内皮细胞分化。血管内皮细胞是组织工程化血管的重要组成成分。利用骨髓间充质干细胞进行血管内皮构建,既可促进组织工程化器官的血管再生,又为组织工程化器官提供血供,同时也为临床治疗缺血性疾病奠定了基础。     

骨髓间充质干细胞复合羟基磷灰石/磷酸三钙植骨材料的体外研究

目的研究兔骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)在羟基磷灰石/磷酸三钙(HA/TCP)植骨材料上的黏附增殖情况。方法抽取兔股骨骨髓,进行贴壁培养BMSCs。在成骨诱导液中诱导BMSCs,于7d用钙钴法检测碱性磷酸酶活性,10d进行茜素红矿化结节染色;在成脂诱导液中诱导BMSCs,于21d进行油红O染色。将BMSCs接种到HA/TCP植骨材料上,加入成骨诱导液,采用倒置显微镜、荧光显微镜及扫描电镜检测,并采用四氮唑蓝(MTT)比色法测定HA/TCP植骨材料上BMSCs的增殖情况。结果BMSCs在成骨诱导液中7d碱性磷酸酶呈强阳性,10d矿化结节染色呈橘红色;在成脂诱导液中,21d油红O染色呈阳性。BMSCs在HA/TCP植骨材料上孔隙周围及孔隙内生长良好并大量增殖。MTT分析结果显示,HA/TCP对BMSCs的体外增殖无抑制作用。结论BMSCs与HA/TCP植骨材料有良好的生物相容性。     

The Nell-1 growth factor stimulates bone formation by purified human perivascular cells

The search for novel sources of stem cells other than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for bone regeneration and repair has been a critical endeavor. We previously established an effective protocol to homogeneously purify human pericytes from multiple fetal and adult tissues, including adipose, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, and identified pericytes as a primitive origin of human MSCs. In the present study, we further characterized the osteogenic potential of purified human pericytes combined with a novel osteoinductive growth factor, Nell-1. Purified pericytes grown on either standard culture ware or human cancellous bone chip (hCBC) scaffolds exhibited robust osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Using a nude mouse muscle pouch model, pericytes formed significant new bone in vivo as compared to scaffold alone (hCBC). Moreover, Nell-1 significantly increased pericyte osteogenic differentiation, both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, Nell-1 significantly induced pericyte proliferation and was observed to have pro-angiogenic effects, both in vitro and in vivo. These studies suggest that pericytes are a potential new cell source for future efforts in skeletal regenerative medicine, and that Nell-1 is a candidate growth factor able to induce pericyte osteogenic differentiation.