Superior osteogenic capacity of different mesenchymal stem cells for bone tissue engineering

OBJECTIVE:We evaluated the effect of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs), and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in bone tissue engineering and identified a reliable cell source. STUDY DESIGN:Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate osteogenic in vitro, X-ray and histologic analysis in vivo. RESULTS:hBMSCs exhibited strongest ALP staining, followed by hAD-MSCs and hUC-MSCs. At 7 days, hUC-MSCs and hAD-MSCs had higher expression of collagen type I and Runt-related transcription factor 2 than hBMSCs, and hUC-MSCs showed higher osteopontin expression. Bone structure was observed in the hUC-MSC group. Defects showed good healing in the hBMSC and hAD-MSC groups. Enhanced green fluorescent protein and osteopontin were detected in newly formed bone at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggested that hUC-MSCs and hAD-MSCs could be used for bone tissue engineering effectively; hUC-MSCs could serve as a new alternative cell source.