Osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal bone marrow cells in silk scaffolds is regulated by nitric oxide.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) are a powerful tool for tissue engineering and can be used in the regeneration of bone and other tissues. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in bone development and healing. We hypothesized that NO plays a role in osteogenic differentiation of BMSC cultured in three-dimensional silk scaffolds. eNOS protein was measured by Western Analysis and its activity was assessed by measuring nitrite in culture supernatants. Mineralization was evaluated through calcium deposition and the expression of genes associated with osteogenic differentiation (collagen I, RUNX2, and osteocalcin) was quantified using real-time RT-PCR. eNOS was consistently expressed with minor fluctuations, but NO production significantly increased at later time points (weeks 4 and 5). Addition of a competitive NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) resulted in a modest decrease in calcium deposition, which became statistically significant in week 5. This was preceded by a dramatic decrease in RUNX2 and osteocalcin expression in week 4. These results support our hypothesis and implicate NO as an important player in bone tissue engineering.
Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Tufts University, Rm. 639, One Kneeland Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. petros.damoulis@tufts.edu
Petros D
PD
Damoulis
Dimitrios E
DE
Drakos
Eleni
E
Gagari
David L
DL
Kaplan
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D012831:Bombyx; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis; D047011:Silk; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007477:Ions; D009573:Nitrites; D047011:Silk; D009569:Nitric Oxide