title: Human amniotic fluid-derived and dental pulp-derived stem cells seeded into collagen scaffold repair critical-size bone defects promoting vascularization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main aim of this study is to evaluate potential human stem cells, such as dental pulp stem cells and amniotic fluid stem cells, combined with collagen scaffold to reconstruct critical-size cranial bone defects in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed two symmetric full-thickness cranial defects on each parietal region of rats and we replenished them with collagen scaffolds with or without stem cells already seeded into and addressed towards osteogenic lineage in vitro. After 4 and 8 weeks, cranial tissue samples were taken for histological and immunofluorescence analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a new bone formation in all of the samples but the most relevant differences in defect correction were shown by stem cell-collagen samples 4 weeks after implant, suggesting a faster regeneration ability of the combined constructs. The presence of human cells in the newly formed bone was confirmed by confocal analysis with an antibody directed to a human mitochondrial protein. Furthermore, human cells were found to be an essential part of new vessel formation in the scaffold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data confirmed the strong potential of bioengineered constructs of stem cell-collagen scaffold for correcting large cranial defects in an animal model and highlighting the role of stem cells in neovascularization during skeletal defect reconstruction.
authors.forename: Tullia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maraldi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisciotta
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavatti
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beretti
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: La Sala
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Anto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Pol
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen