title: Enhancement of bone formation by genetically engineered human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells expressing osterix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate if overexpression of osterix (Osx) in human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) would facilitate osteogenic differentiation in bone regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  UC-MSCs were isolated from UCs. A pEGFP-Osx plasmid was constructed and applied to transfect UC-MSCs. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and expression of bone-related genes were examined to evaluate the osteogenic potential of UC-MSCs. Bone regeneration in vivo was evaluated in nude mice using PLGA as a carrier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction showed that pEGFP-Osx transfection enhanced expression of bone matrix proteins. Overexpression of Osx in UC-MSCs enhanced ALP activity, while not inhibited their proliferation rate. The Osx-transduced group formed significantly more bone at 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerning their simple isolation and proliferation, it is believed that genetically engineered UC-MSCs could play important roles in the study and application of bone tissue engineering.
authors: Attending Physician, Department of Orthodontics, Hefei Stomatologic Hospital, Hefei, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Shengyun
authors: S
authors: Huang
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Pan
authors: Shanshan
authors: S
authors: Jia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; C478163:SP7 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid