1,721,016 research outputs found
Effects of TGF? and bFGF on the differentiation of human bone marrow stromal fibroblasts
Adipocytes and osteoblasts have common origins from fibroblastic stem cells. Consequently, modulation of the processes of adipogenesis and osteogenesis has implications for the possible treatment of metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, in which medullary fat accumulates and trabecular bone volume decreases. It is likely that the balance between these two systems is affected by particular endogenous growth factors which are known to affect bone metabolism. We have therefore investigated the effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF?), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and dexamethasone (Dex) on cultured human bone marrow (HBM) fibroblastic cells to observe the effects on adipogenesis and osteogenesis. In the absence of fetal calf serum (FCS), TGF? caused a dose-dependent increase in cell growth and alkaline phosphatase activity (AP); however, in the presence of FCS growth was inhibited at high concentrations and AP unaffected. TGF? increased matrix proteoglycan and collagen synthesis. bFGF inhibited AP and increased colony number and size, while Dex treatment increased AP activity and colony number, and both factors in combination resulted in an additive increase in growth. Dex-induced adipocyte formation was accelerated but not increased by bFGF. A significant inhibition of adipogenesis by TGF? was observed within 7 days. These results demonstrate the importance of biological factors known to be involved in bone remodelling in the regulation of osteogenesis and adipogenesis
Future potentials for using osteogenic stem cells and biomaterials in orthopedics
Ideal skeletal reconstruction depends on regeneration of normal tissues that result from initiation of progenitor cell activity. However, knowledge of the origins and phenotypic characteristics of these progenitors and the controlling factors that govern bone formation and remodeling to give a functional skeleton adequate for physiological needs is limited. Practical methods are currently being investigated to amplify in in vitro culture the appropriate autologous cells to aid skeletal healing and reconstruction. Recent advances in the fields of biomaterials, biomimetics, and tissue engineering have focused attention on the potentials for clinical application. Current cell therapy procedures include the use of tissue-cultured skin cells for treatment of burns and ulcers, and in orthopedics, the use of cultured cartilage cells for articular defects. As mimicry of natural tissues is the goal, a fuller understanding of the development, structures, and functions of normal tissues is necessary. Practically all tissues are capable of being repaired by tissue engineering principles. Basic requirements include a scaffold conducive to cell attachment and maintenance of cell function, together with a rich source of progenitor cells. In the latter respect, bone is a special case and there is a vast potential for regeneration from cells with stem cell characteristics. The development of osteoblasts, chondroblasts, adipoblasts, myoblasts, and fibroblasts results from colonies derived from such single cells. They may thus, theoretically, be useful for regeneration of all tissues that this variety of cells comprise: bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, tendons, and ligaments. Also relevant to tissue reconstruction is the field of genetic engineering, which as a principal step in gene therapy would be the introduction of a functional specific human DNA into cells of a patient with a genetic disease that affects mainly a particular tissue or organ. Such a situation is pertinent to osteogenesis imperfecta, for example, where in more severely affected individuals any improvements in long bone quality would be beneficial to the patient. In conclusion, the potentials for using osteogenic stem cells and biomaterials in orthopedics for skeletal healing is immense, and work in this area is likely to expand significantly in the future
Activation of the bone-derived latent TGF beta complex by isolated osteoclasts
Although TGF beta is unquestionably an important growth regulatory polypeptide with effects on many cell types, the cellular mechanisms which release it from the binding proteins which mask its biological activity are not well understood. Here we show that when isolated osteoclasts are activated, they release active TGF beta from the latent TGF beta complex produced by bone organ cultures. Since active TGF beta has powerful inhibitory effects on osteoclast formation and bone resorption and stimulates osteoblast activity, is present in abundant amounts in the bone matrix and is released during hormone-stimulated osteoclastic bone resorption, the activation of TGF beta by stimulated osteoclasts may be an important regulatory step in normal bone remodeling
Nanotopographical control of human osteoprogenitor differentiation
Current load-bearing orthopaedic implants are produced in 'bio-inert' materials such as titanium alloys. When inserted into the reamed bone during hip or knee replacement surgery the implants interact with mesenchymal populations including the bone marrow. Bio-inert materials are shielded from the body by differentiation of the cells along the fibroblastic lineage producing scar tissue and inferior healing. This is exacerbated by implant micromotion, which can lead to capsule formation. Thus, next-generation implant materials will have to elicit influence over osteoprogenitor differentiation and mesenchymal populations in order to recruit osteoblastic cells and produce direct bone apposition onto the implant. A powerful method of delivering cues to cells is via topography. Micro-scale topography has been shown to affect cell adhesion, migration, cytoskeleton, proliferation and differentiation of a large range of cell types (thus far all cell types tested have been shown to be responsive to topographical cues). More recent research with nanotopography has also shown a broad range of cell response, with fibroblastic cells sensing down to 10 nm in height. Initial studies with human mesenchymal populations and osteoprogenitor populations have again shown strong cell responses to nanofeatures with increased levels of osteocalcin and osteopontin production from the cells on certain topographies. This is indicative of increased osteoblastic activity on the nanotextured materials. Looking at preliminary data, it is tempting to speculate that progenitor cells are, in fact, more responsive to topography than more mature cell types and that they are actively seeking cues from their environment. This review will investigate the range of nanotopographies available to researchers and our present understanding of mechanisms of progenitor cell response. Finally, it will make some speculations of the future of nanomaterials and progenitor cells in tissue engineering
Animal models of maternal nutrition and altered offspring bone structure
It is widely accepted that the likelihood of offspring developing heart disease, stroke, or diabetes in later life, is influenced by the their in utero environment and maternal nutrition. There is increasing epidemiological evidence that osteoporosis in the offspring may also be influenced by the mother’s nutrition during pregnancy. This review provides evidence from a range of animal models that supports the epidemiological data; suggesting that lifelong bone development and growth in offspring is determined during gestation.<br/
Development of in vivo muCT evaluation of neovascularisation in tissue engineered bone constructs
Due to an increasing aging population the need for innovative approaches to aid skeletal repair and reconstruction is a significant socio-economic increasing problem. The emerging discipline of tissue engineering has sort to augment the growth and repair of bone loss particularly in areas of trauma, degeneration and revision surgery. However, the initiation and development of a fully functional vascular network are critical for bioengineered bone to repair large osseous defects, whether the material is osteosynthetic (poly (d,l)-lactic acid, PLA) or natural bone allograft. Quantification and three-dimensional visualization of new vessel networks remain a problem in bone tissue engineering constructs. A novel technique utilising a radio-opaque dye and micro-computed tomography (muCT) has been developed and applied to study angiogenesis in an impaction bone graft model. Tissue-engineered constructs combining human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSC) with natural allograft and synthetic grafts (PLA) were impacted and implanted into the subcutis of MF-1 nu/nu mice for a period of 28 days. Microfil consisting of radio-opaque polymer was perfused through the mice and scanned using a Bench Top CT system for micro-computed tomography. Analysis of three-dimensional muCT reconstructions demonstrated an increase in vessel volume and vessel number in the impacted scaffolds/HBMC compared to scaffolds alone. Vessel volume: allograft/HBMSC=0.57 mm(3)+/-0.19; allograft=0.04 mm(3)+/-0.04; PLA/HBMSC=1.19 mm(3)+/-0.31; and PLA=0.12 mm(3)+/-0.01. Penetrating vessel number: allograft/HBMSC=22.33+/-3.21; allograft=3.67+/-1.153; PLA/HBMSC=32.67+/-8.33; and PLA=7.67+/-3.06. Type 1 collagen and von Willebrand factor immunohistochemistry in scaffold/HBMSC constructs indicated the osteogenic cell phenotype, and new blood vessel formation respectively. Contrast-enhanced 3D reconstructions facilitated the visualization and quantification of neovascularisation. This novel technique has been used to demonstrate neovascularisation in impacted tissue engineered constructs providing a facile approach with wide experimental application
Effects of beta mercaptoethanol on the proliferation and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells.
Antioxidants are known to influence metabolism and promote cell survival in a number of cell culture systems. However, their effects on the modulation of bone cell differentiation in vitro are not clearly defined. In the present studies we have investigated the effects of beta-mercaptoethanol (beta ME) and ascorbate alone and in combination on human osteoprogenitors derived from bone marrow fibroblasts. In primary marrow cultures, beta ME stimulated colony formation (2-fold), alkaline phosphatase activity (3.5-fold) and, increased DNA synthesis (8-fold) after 21 days. Cell proliferation was increased significantly by beta ME during the first 4 days of a 10-day culture period, indicating stimulation of marrow osteoprogenitor proliferation. Ascorbate did not significantly augment the effects of beta ME in primary cultures or long-term cultures of passaged bone marrow fibroblasts. These findings indicate a potential beneficial role for beta ME addition for the optimal maintenance of colony formation, cell proliferation and differentiation of marrow osteoprogenitor cells in primary human bone marrow fibroblast cultures
Interconversion potential of cloned human marrow adipocytes in vitro
Information on the interconversion potential of adipocytes and other end cells characteristic of the stromal fibroblastic cell lineages, key in the understanding of bone turnover in metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis, is limited. The object of the present study was: i) to isolate relatively pure populations of adipocytes from human bone marrow; ii) to clone single adipocytes from these populations; and iii) to examine in vitro the interconversion potential of the progeny of these single-cloned adipocytes between the osteogenic and adipogenic phenotypes. Adipogenic colonies were isolated from the low-density floating fraction of normal bone marrow cells cultured in adipogenic media for 4 days. Single adipocytes were isolated and cloned by limiting dilution. Cloned adipocytes were found to dedifferentiate into fibroblast-like cells, and subsequently to differentiate into two morphologically distinct cell types: osteoblasts and adipocytes in appropriate culture systems. The adipocytic phenotype was confirmed by morphology, oil red O staining, and immunocytochemistry using antiserum to aP2. The osteogenic phenotype was confirmed by alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin immunostaining using specific osteocalcin antiserum, and formation of mineralized cell aggregates. These findings demonstrate the extent of plasticity between the differentiation of adipocytic and osteogenic cells in human bone marrow stromal cell cultures. We have shown the ability of isolated clonal adipogenic cells to redifferentiate into cells of the osteogenic and adipogenic lineage and the interconversion potential of human marrow stromal cells in vitro. These results provide further evidence that the osteogenic and adipogenic cells share a common multipotential precursor
Modulation of osteogenic differentiation in human skeletal cells in Vitro by 5-azacytidine
Cellular differentiation is controlled by a variety of factors including gene methylation, which represses particular genes as cell fate is determined. The incorporation of 5-azacytidine (5azaC) into DNA in vitro prevents methylation and thus can alter cellular differentiation pathways. Human bone marrow fibroblasts and MG63 cells treated with 5azaC were used as models of osteogenic progenitors and of a more mature osteoblast phenotype, respectively. The capacity for differentiation of these cells following treatment with glucocorticoids was investigated. 5azaC treatment led to significant expression of the osteoblastic marker alkaline phosphatase in MG63 osteosarcoma cells, which was further augmented by glucocorticoids; however, in human marrow fibroblasts alkaline phosphatase activity was only observed in glucocorticoid-treated cultures. MG63 cells represent a phenotype late in the osteogenic lineage in which demethylation is sufficient to induce alkaline phosphatase activity. Marrow fibroblasts are at an earlier stage of differentiation and require stimulation with glucocorticoids. In contrast, the expression of osteocalcin, an osteoblastic marker, was unaffected by 5azaC treatment, suggesting that regulation of expression of the osteocalcin gene does not involve methylation. These models provide novel approaches to the study of the control of differentiation in the marrow fibroblastic system
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