title: Adipose-derived stem cells alleviate osteoporosis by enhancing osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by a reduction in bone quality, which is associated with inadequacies in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). As an alternative cell source to BMSCs, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have been investigated for bone repair because of their osteogenic potential and self-renewal capability. Nevertheless, whether autologous ASCs can be used to promote bone regeneration under osteoporotic conditions has not been elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The OP rabbit model was established by means of bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). Both BMSCs and ASCs were harvested from OVX rabbits and expanded in vitro. The effects of osteogenic-induced ASCs on the in vitro adipogenic and osteogenic capabilities of BMSCs were evaluated. Autologous ASCs were then encapsulated by calcium alginate gel and transplanted into the distal femurs of OVX rabbits (n = 12). Hydrogel without loading cells was injected into the contralateral femurs as a control. Animals were killed for investigation at 12 weeks after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Osteogenic-induced ASCs were able to promote osteogenesis and inhibit adipogenesis of osteoporotic BMSCs through activation of the bone morphogenetic protein 2/bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB signal pathway. Local bone mineral density began to increase at 8 weeks after ASC transplantation (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks, micro-computed tomography and histological evaluation revealed more new bone formation in the cell-treated femurs than in the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that ASCs could stimulate proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro and enhance bone regeneration in vivo, which suggests that autologous osteogenic-induced ASCs might be useful to alleviate OP temporally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinhai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaobo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Yipin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address: guangpengliu@163.com.
authors.forename: Guangpeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011817:Rabbits
keywords: adipose-derived stem cells; alginate; bone regeneration; osteoporosis; rabbit; tissue engineering