BACKGROUND: Segmental bone defect is still a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. Currently available therapies for segmental bone defects have some drawbacks. Tissue engineering using pluripotent stem cells is a new, promising method for bone repair. The present study aims to promote the effect of bone defect repair using the tissue engineered bone in combination with vascularized periosteal flaps. METHODS: The adenoviral vector carrying Cbfa1 transduced rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and gene modified tissue engineering bone (GMB) were constructed. Rabbits with radial defects were implanted with the GMB together with vascularized periosteum (group A); or GMB with free periosteum (group B); or GMB (group C), and scaffold (group D). The bone repair effect was evaluated at 4, 8, or 12 wk, respectively, after the operations. RESULTS: Cbfa1 proteins were strongly expressed in adipose stem cells (ADSCs) that formed a stratified network on the inner surface of the polylactic acid/ polycaprolacton (PLA/PCL) pores. Bone repair was well achieved in the rabbits treated with the Cbfa1-expressing ADSCs and vascularized flap that was markedly better than those treated with either Cbfa1-expressing ADSCs alone or with vascularized flap alone. CONCLUSIONS: Combination with implanting the Cbfa1 gene-modified tissue-engineered bone and vascularized periosteum can better repair the segmental bone defects by stimulating osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction than using either one of the approaches.
BACKGROUND: Segmental bone defect is still a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. Currently available therapies for segmental bone defects have some drawbacks. Tissue engineering using pluripotent stem cells is a new, promising method for bone repair. The present study aims to promote the effect of bone defect repair using the tissue engineered bone in combination with vascularized periosteal flaps. METHODS: The adenoviral vector carrying Cbfa1 transduced rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and gene modified tissue engineering bone (GMB) were constructed. Rabbits with radial defects were implanted with the GMB together with vascularized periosteum (group A); or GMB with free periosteum (group B); or GMB (group C), and scaffold (group D). The bone repair effect was evaluated at 4, 8, or 12 wk, respectively, after the operations. RESULTS: Cbfa1 proteins were strongly expressed in adipose stem cells (ADSCs) that formed a stratified network on the inner surface of the polylactic acid/ polycaprolacton (PLA/PCL) pores. Bone repair was well achieved in the rabbits treated with the Cbfa1-expressing ADSCs and vascularized flap that was markedly better than those treated with either Cbfa1-expressing ADSCs alone or with vascularized flap alone. CONCLUSIONS: Combination with implanting the Cbfa1 gene-modified tissue-engineered bone and vascularized periosteum can better repair the segmental bone defects by stimulating osteogenesis, osteoinduction, and osteoconduction than using either one of the approaches.