Human osteoprotegerin inhibits osteoclasts and promotes hydroxyapatite to repair the mandibular defects in ovariectomized rats / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aims to investigate the effect of human osteoprotegerin (hOPG) gene-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) combined with hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds on the repair of mandibular defects in ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>rBMSCs were transfected with adenovirus carrying pDC316-hOPG-EGFP. The expression of hOPG and the inhibition of osteoclast function were detected by Western blot and bone-grinding experiment respectively. The model of mandibular bone defect in rats with osteoporosis was established; HA, untransfected rBMSCs-conjugated HA, and transfected rBMSCs-conjugated HA scaffolds were implanted into the mandibular bone defects. After six weeks, tartrateresistant acid phosphatase staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to observe the number of osteoclasts and repair of bone defect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Adenovirus carrying hOPG gene in vitro were successfully transfected into rBMSCs. The hOPG with anti-osteoclast activity was expressed by hOPG-rBMSCs, and rBMSCs expressing hOPG combined with HA scaffolds promoted mandibular defect repair.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rBMSCs transfected with hOPG gene inhibited the function of osteoclasts both in vitro and in vivo, and transfected rBMSCs combined with HA scaffolds promoted the repair of mandibular defects in rats with osteoporosis.</p>