MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING

Objective. To evaluate bone regeneration potential of mesenchymal stem cells Background. Bone fracture repair and regeneration is a complex phenomenon. Of the several approaches, stem cell based bone regeneration is gaining momentum. Owing to their multiple differentiation property and immune privilege, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are appealing candidates for bone tissue engineering. The progression of stem cells to osteogenic (bone) precursor cells is spatio-temporally regulated event, involving stage expression of molecules that regulate a variety of signaling cascades. Methods. MSCs derived from human umbilical cord (HUMSCs) and gingival tissue (HGMSCs) were isolated and cultured in growth medium supplemented with antibiotics. Cells were guided to differentiate into various lineages (osteogenic, adepogenic and chondrogenic) to confirm their multipotential nature. The HGMSCS were grown as monolayers and encapsulated in a self-assembled hydrogel scaffold. Cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation was measured using standard protocols. The scaffold impregnated with HGMSCs pre-programmed for osteogenic differentiation was delivered in vivo in ectopic bone regeneration model of rat. The bone regeneration was assessed over a period of period of 2-8 weeks. Results. Our studies revealed that HUMSCS and HGMSCS have multilineage potential. HGMSCs growth was significantly enhanced in the cells encapsulated in the scaffold. The bone formation was observed HGMSCs implanted in the hydrogel scaffold. Conclusion. HUMSCs and HGMSCs that were isolated by minimally invasive method showed equipotent ability to differentiate in to osteogenic lineage as those derived from bone marrow. Therefore, these cells can be employed for bone tissue engineering. Grants. This research was supported by HPD and PFRDG.