Human oral mucosa-derived neural crest-like stem cells differentiate into functional osteoprogenitors that contribute to regeneration of critical size calvaria defects

Sonia Lopez-Letayf, Ina Arie, Shareef Araidy, Imad Abu El-Naaj, Sandu Pitaru, Higinio Arzate*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and objective: Regeneration of large bony defects is an unmet medical need. The therapeutic effect of fully developed bony constructs engineered in vitro from mineralized scaffold and adult stem cells is hampered by deficient long-term graft integration. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the regenerative capacity of a bony primordial construct consisting of human oral mucosa stem cells (hOMSC)-derived osteoprogenitors and absorbable Gelfoam® sponges. Methods: Gingiva and alveolar mucosa-derived hOMSC were differentiated into osteoprogenitors (Runx2 and osterix positive) and loaded into Gelfoam® sponges to generate primordial hOMSC constructs. These were implanted into critical size calvaria defects in the rat. Defects treated with human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) constructs; Gelfoam® sponges and untreated defects served as controls. Results: After 120-day post-implantation defects treated with hOMSC constructs, HDF constructs and gelatin and untreated defects exhibited 86%, 30%, 21%, and 9% of new bone formation, respectively. Immunofluorescence analysis for human nuclear antigen (HNA), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin (OCN) revealed viable hOMSC-derived osteoblasts and osteocytes that formed most of the cell population of the newly formed bone at 30 and 120 days post surgery. Few HNA-positive HDF that were negative for BSP and OCN were identified together with inflammatory cells in the soft tissue adjacent to new bone formation only at 30 days post implantation. Conclusion: Collectively, the results demonstrate that primordial in vitro engineered constructs consisting of hOMSC-derived osteoprogenitors and absorbable gelatin almost completely regenerate critical size defects in an immunocompetent xenogeneic animal by differentiating into functional osteoblasts that retain the immunomodulatory ability of naïve hOMSC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)305-315
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Periodontal Research
Volume57
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Science Foundation384/13

    Keywords

    • bone
    • gingiva
    • oral mucosa
    • osteoprogenitor
    • regeneration
    • stem cells

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