Embryonic stem cells induce ectopic bone formation in rats.
BACKGROUND
Surgery often leads to massive destruction of the skeleton. Cell-based bone reconstruction therapies promise new therapeutic opportunities for the repair of bone. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be differentiated into osteogenic cells and are a potential cell source for bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this in vivo study was to investigate the bone formation in various constructs containing ESCs (with and without micromass technology) and insoluble collagenous bone matrix (ICBM).


METHODS
Murine ESCs were cultured as monolayer cultures as well as micromasses and seeded on ICBM. These constructs were implanted in immunodeficient rats. After one week, one, two and three months CT-scans were performed to detect any calcifications and the rats were sacrificed.


RESULTS
The radiological examination shows a steep increase of the mineralized tissue in group 1 (ICBM+seeded ESC). This increase can be considered as statistical significant. In contrast, the volume of the mineralization in group 2 (ICBM+ESC-spheres) and group 3 (ESC-spheres) does not increase significantly during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
ESCs in combination with ICBM do promote ectopic bone formation in vivo. Thus, this cell population as well as the biomaterial ICBM might be promising components for bone tissue engineering.
Department for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
Maren
M
Kahle
Hans-Peter
HP
Wiesmann
Karin
K
Berr
Rita A
RA
Depprich
Norbert R
NR
Kübler
Christian
C
Naujoks
Matthias
M
Cohnen
Michelle A
MA
Ommerborn
Ulrich
U
Meyer
Jörg
J
Handschel
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002828:Choristoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008863:Microspheres; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry