Aplicaciones del cultivo celular en odontología / Applications of cell culture in dentistry

Las ciencias básicas, la medicina oral y los nuevos avanzces en biotecnología y bioinformática constituyen un gran campo de investigación dentro de la odontología actual. En este sentido, dichos avances están proporcionandoun nuevo conjunto de estrategias terapéuticas para el manejo clínico de los pacientes con dolencias dentales y craneofaciales. Es importante destacar que las disciplinas relacionadas con las ciencias básicas, la medicina oral, la biotecnología y la bioinformática, han contribuido de manera trascendental al entendimiento de la fisiología y lasdiversas patologías que afectan las condiciones de normalidad del sistema bucal. La ingeniería tisular se considera como un enfoque prometedor para la odontología regenerativa, con el objetivofinal de reemplazar morfológica y funcionalmente los tejidos periodontales y/o los dientes perdidos a través dela síntesis in vitro de sustitutos análogos tisulares, considerando que el diente y las estructuras periodontales son importantes órganos del complejo craneofacial, los tratamientos utilizados para las enfermedades que los afectan no lo restauran completamente. La odontología clínica está incursionando en una nueva era en donde el enfoque terapéutico es el uso de terapia génica, terapia celular, ingeniería tisular y lamedicina regenerativa, ampliando el arsenal de posibilidades para nuestros pacientes. Una línea de investigaciónfundamental en ingeniería tisular y medicina regenerativa son las células madres. Como parte de los nuevos avances de la odontología a nivel mundial, científicos e investigadores del mundo aplican la bioingeniería para lograr reconstrucciones maxilofaciales,regeneraciones óseas y reconstrucciones de piezas dentales a partir de células madre como parte de tratamientos inovadores...

An outcome analysis and long-term viability of cryopreserved cultured epidermal allografts: assessment of the conservation of transplantable human skin allografts

PURPOSE: To assess the viability of cultured epithelium and preserved by freezing for periods varying from one month to one year. METHODS: Samples of cultured epithelium were incubated in cryoprotectant medium (Group A), packed in aluminum envelopes and packed in polystyrene boxes. The boxes were subjected to a temperature of-70ºC. After freezing for a period of time ranging from one to 12 months, cultured epithelial samples were assessed for their viability by vital staining (Trypan blue) and metabolic analysis based on glucose consumption and lactate production. Samples of not frozen cultured epithelium (Group B) were also tested for viability and the results obtained were used as comparison parameter for the variation of viability. RESULTS: Statistical analysis between the group A and B indicate that the mean age of the donors (p=0.51) and the culture time (p=1.18) showed no statistical difference. In 30 days we obtained 37% of the original viability of cultured epithelium, 25% at six months and one year, less than 15%. This trend was confirmed statistically with a reduction of approximately 1.8% of the original viability epithelium cultured every 30 days of storage. In the analysis by lactate production, similar results were observed. In the analysis by the glucose consumption results were not significant. The viability indices show statistically significant difference between the group A and B (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although cryopreserved cultured epithelium showed significant reduction of viability, all samples remained viable. It was also found that the viability of cryopreserved cultured epithelial decreased as a function of storage time.

Vascular smooth muscle cells cultured on elastin membranes

Smooth muscle cells from thoracic aortas of 12-week-old rats were cultured on elastin membranes for up to 21 days. The cell cultures were examined using light microscopy, trasmission and scanning electron microscopy. The contractile phenotype characteristic for resident arterial wall muscle cell changed to the synthetic phenotype. In the synthetic state, the muscle cells contain few filaments, but a substantial amount of orgenelles are involved with synthesis. The cells grown on elastin substrates showed a multilayered pattern with the formation of nodules. Cell degeneration was present from dayeight and increased with time. At the end of the experiment, the center of the multilayered areas showed degenerative changes with numerous foam cells of smooth muscle origin, areas of necrosis and a considerable amount of calcium deposit. Our experimental model would be valuable in the investigation of the pathological changes associated with smooth muscle cell proliferation in vessels

Ionic dependence of cell volume regulation by the thin ascending limb of henle's loop

Thin ascending limb cells from Henle's loop were optical and video techniques to evaluate cell volume regulation in response to anisoosmotic media and its ionic dependence. Cell volume regulation was observed when these cells were exposed to, hypoosmotic solutions. Under hyperosmotic conditions only an osmometric reponse was found, with no volume regulatory increase (VRI). The removal of Cl- or HCO3- abolished the volume regulatory decrease (VRD) normally observed during exposure to hypoosmotic soloutions. Re-addition of these ions did not elicit the VRD response. The removal of K+ from hypoosmotic solutions abolished VRD but is re-introduction restored the volume regulatory reponse. In the absence of Na+, a partial inhibition of VRD was found; re-addition of Na+ completely restored the regulatory response. These indicate that cells from the thin ascending limb of Henle's loop regulate their volume under hypoosmotic conditions, and that this process is dependent upon Cl-, HCO3-, Na+ and K+, with different patterns of response being observed upon addition or deltion of these ions