Autologous osteoblast transplantation, an innovative method of bone defect treatment: role of a tissue and cell bank in the process

BACKGROUND

The idea of cell treatment of various diseases and medical conditions has become very popular. Some procedures are well established, as is autologous chondrocyte implantation, whereas others are still in the process of early development, laboratory experiments, and some clinical trials.

METHODS

This report is devoted to an example of an emerging cell treatment: bone augmentation with the use of autologous cells and its legal and technical background. Various requirements set by law must be met by tissue banks performing cell seeding of grafts. In Europe, the requirements are described in directives 2004/23/EC, 2006/17/EC, 2006/86/EC, and in the regulation 2007/1394/EC.

RESULTS

Revitalization of biostatic allografts gives new, promising tools for creation of functional parts of organs; brings the methodology used in tissue banks closer to tissue engineering; places the enterprise in the mainstream of advanced biotechnology; allows the full potential of tissue allografts; and opens a new, large area for clinical and laboratory research. Cell and tissue processing also have a financial impact on the treatment: it produces additional expenditures.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical effectiveness will be the most decisive factor of whether this innovative treatment will be applied in a particular type of medical condition. From a tissue establishment perspective, the most important issue is to develop a procedure that ensures safety for the patient in graft quality terms.

Incidence of bone formation by whole bone marrow cell suspensions and by its stromal cell cultures injected into kidney parenchyma of Balb/c mice

The evaluation of incidence of bone formation by whole syngeneic bone marrow cell suspension and by bone marrow stromal cell cultured in vitro injection into kidney parenchyma was done. Bone tissue was found in 26 kidneys out of 100 injected with whole bone marrow cells suspension. Cultured stromal bone marrow cells grafted into kidney parenchyma produced ossicles in only 4 out of 101 injected kidneys. Such low incidence of bone forming ability of the marrow stromal cell cultures grafted into kidney indicate their useless for study on bone histogenesis in the kidney by murine marrow stromal cell cultures.

Estimation of inbreeding and effective population size of full-blood Wagyu cattle registered with the American Wagyu Cattle Association

The objective of this research was to examine the population structure of full-blood (100%) Wagyu cattle registered in the United States with the American Wagyu Association, with the aim of estimating and comparing the levels of inbreeding from both pedigree and genotypic data. A total of 4132 full-blood Wagyu cattle pedigrees were assessed and used to compute the inbreeding coefficients (FIT and FST ) and the effective population size (Ne ) from pedigree data for the period 1994 to 2011. In addition to pedigree analysis, 47 full-blood Wagyu cattle representing eight prominent sire lines in the American Wagyu cattle population were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Genotypic data were then used to estimate genomic inbreeding coefficients (FROH ) by calculating runs of homozygosity. The mean inbreeding coefficient based on the pedigree data was estimated at 4.80%. The effective population size averaged 17 between the years 1994 and 2011 with an increase of 42.9 in 2000 and a drop of 1.8 in 2011. Examination of the runs of homozygosity revealed that the 47 Wagyu cattle from the eight prominent sire lines had a mean genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH ) estimated at 9.08% compared to a mean inbreeding coefficient based on pedigree data of 4.8%. These data suggest that the mean genotype inbreeding coefficient of full-blood Wagyu cattle exceeds the inbreeding coefficient identified by pedigree. Inbreeding has increased slowly at a rate of 0.03% per year over the past 17 years. Wagyu breeders should continue to utilize many sires from divergent lines and consider outcrossing to other breeds to enhance genetic diversity and minimize the adverse effects of inbreeding in Wagyu.

Osteogenic properties of various HeLa cell lines and the BMP family genes expression

Heterotopic ossicles were induced in thigh muscles of immunosuppressed mice by implantation of suspension of several HeLa cell lines. These ossicles are the object of our research on osteoporosis. It was found that various HeLa cell lines differ in their potential to induce osteogenesis. In the previous paper we demonstrated the involvement of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-4 and BMP-6) secreted by HeLa cells in this phenomenon. In the present paper we try to find out the reason of the heterogeneity of various cell lines regarding the differences in their osteoinductive potencies. By the use of semiquantitative RT-PCR the differences in mRNA expression for several isoforms of BMP proteins in examined HeLa cell lines were found. The presence or absence of some of the BMP isoforms seems to be correlated with the quantity of heterotopically induced mineralised tissues. This was measured by weighing the deposited mineral after digestion of soft tissues surrounding the induced ossicles. This finding is supporting the thesis on high and uncontrolled heterogeneity of various HeLa cell lines used all over the world.

Fourier and fractal analysis of maxillary alveolar ridge repair using platelet rich plasma (PRP) and inorganic bovine bone

This report concerns the regeneration of the maxillary alveolar process in a 17-year-old patient who had lost the upper central incisors together with alveolar bone as a result of a car accident. Three months later, GBR (guided bone regeneration) was started with the use of autogenic platelet rich plasma (PRP) and inorganic bovine bone. The regenerated bone was analysed after 10 months and compared with intact bone using Fourier analysis of radiograms. The radial and spatial distribution of Fourier transforms showed that the original trabecular pattern existing in the intact bone on both sides of the defect was replicated in an evident way in the regenerated bone. Fractal analysis of intact and regenerated bone showed a higher fractal dimension for intact bone in comparison with regenerated bone, confirming a lower complexity of the newly formed trabecular structures. Replication of the original trabecular pattern in regenerated bone allows us to conclude that genetic mechanisms are influencing the organization of the trabecular pattern of regenerated bone tissue, probably under the influence of the growth factors contained in autologous PRP.

Estrous cycle dependent changes in steroid secretion by pig ovarian cells in vitro to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB 153)

OBJECTIVE

To characterize PCB 153 action on the ovary, the direct effect of PCB153 was investigated in vitro using a co-culture of pig granulosa and theca cells collected during different stages of follicular development.

METHODS

The cells were cultured in the absence or presence of 5, 10, 50 or 100 ng/ml of PCB 153. Media were changed after 48, 96 and 144 h and frozen until further estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and testosterone (T) analysis.

RESULTS

48 hrs exposure of follicular cells collected from small-size follicles to all the investigated doses of PCB 153 caused statistically significant decrease in progesterone (P4) secretion and at doses of 50 ng and 100 ng/ml in testosterone (T) secretion. No effect on estradiol (E2) secretion was observed. After 96h and 144h exposure to PCB an increase in P4 secretion with concomitant drastic decrease in T secretion and a tendency to decrease in E2 secretion was observed. Similarly as in the case of small follicles, the action of PCB on steroid secretion by cells collected from medium follicles depended on time of exposure. The increase in T secretion and no influence on P4 and E2 secretion was observed after 2 days of exposure to PCB. Antiestrogenic action of PCB was noted after 4 and 6 days of exposure to PCB. In large, preovulatory follicles 2 days exposure to PCB had no effect on steroids secretion while longer exposition to this congener caused statistically significant antiestrogenic action.

CONCLUSION

The presented paper suggests various actions of PCB 153 as an endocrine disrupter on estradiol, progesterone and testosterone secretion from ovarian cells in vitro which were dependent on both exposure length and stage of the follicular development.

The trabecular structure of developing human mandible

In this paper we tried to analyse in quantitative terms the differences in trabecular structure of human mandibles 8, 10 and 12 weeks old. The analysis was performed on decalcified Sirius-red stained trabeculae, photographed in polarised light. The data obtained from Fourier transforms of scanned pictures were evaluated by discriminant analysis to show the differences between the analysed stages of development. Also, various parts of the mandible were compared because the clinical experience shows that the frequency of pathological changes is different in different parts of mandible bone. The complexity of trabecular structure of bone samples was measured by fractal dimension. It is concluded that this quantitative approach is reliable and, in the future, could be used for physiological and pathological analyses of bone biopsies.

Quinone oxidoreductase message levels are differentially regulated in parasitic and non-parasitic plants exposed to allelopathic quinones

Allelopathic chemicals released by plants into the rhizosphere have effects on neighboring plants ranging from phytoxicity to inducing organogenesis. The allelopathic activity of naturally occurring quinones and phenols is primarily a function of reactive radicals generated during redox cycling between quinone and hydroquinone states. We isolated cDNAs encoding two distinct quinone oxidoreductases from roots of the parasitic plant Triphysaria treated with the allelopathic quinone 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ). TvQR1 is a member of the zeta-crystallin quinone oxidoreductase family that catalyzes one-electron quinone reductions, generating free radical semiquinones. TvQR2 belongs to a family of detoxifying quinone oxidoreductases that catalyze bivalent redox reactions which avoid the radical intermediate. TvQR1 and TvQR2 message levels are rapidly upregulated in Triphysaria roots as a primary response to treatment with various allelopathic quinones. Inhibition of quinone oxidoreductase enzymatic activity with dicumarol prior to quinone treatment resulted in increased transcript levels. While TvQR2 homologs were upregulated by DMBQ in roots of all plants examined, TvQR1 homologs were upregulated only in roots of parasitic plants. Phylogenetic trees constructed of TvQR1 and TvQR2 protein homologs in Archea, Eubacteria and Eukaryotes indicated that both gene families are ancient, yet the families have dissimilar evolutionary histories in angiosperms. We hypothesize that TvQR2-like proteins function to detoxify allelopathic quinones in the rhizosphere, while TvQR1 has specific functions associated with haustorium development in parasitic plants.

Host--protozoans--bacteria--fungi interrelations in the mouths of patients with systemic illnesses

The aim of this work was to study clinical changes and microorganisms in mouths of three patient groups: with congenital disorders (Cd), dialyzed (D) and control (C). Fifty five patients, 20 to 62 years old were assessed. Swabs and samples of periodontal tissue were used for microscopical study to detect of protozoans and for bacterial and fungal cultures. E. gingivalis and T. tenax were found in all groups. Three out of Cd patients were infected with Acanthamoeba sp.. Fecal bacteria were more often found in D than Cd. In all 30-40 years old D patients, fecal bacteria and various strains of C. albicans occurred. We found that systemic diseases favour instabilities in mouths changing interrelations between protozoa, bacteria and fungi. It may increase risk of clinical complications.

Persistence of bone collagen cross-links in skeletons of the Nuraghi population living in Sardinia 1500-1200 B.C

Bone collagen has a specific molecular ultrastructure which can be proved by birefringence. This protein, forming the main organic component of bone tissue, is known to survive millennia in paleontological bones and teeth. Birefringence of bone collagen obtained from the skeletons of the Nuraghi population living in Sardinia c-ca 1500 years B.C. was found previously by the use of polarizing microscopy [1]. In this paper, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, we show the existence of bone collagen cross-links preserved in Nuraghi skeletons after more than 3000 years.

Dating of palaeoanthropological nuragic skeletal tissues using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry

Dating of skeletons of Nuragic population living in Sardinia island centuries BP, based on the quantitative evaluation of the concentration of stable paramagnetic species produced by ionising radiation in tooth enamel was performed by using EPR spectrometry. Applying the additive dose method (60Co gamma rays) and comparative calculations based on analogous measurements done with Roman skeleton of the known age as discovered close to Nuragic tomb (Tombs of Giants, La Testa S. Teresa di Gallura, Sardinia) the age of Nuragic skeleton was evaluated as equal to about 3,200 years (1,200 years BC). The total error of EPR measurements and dose extrapolation was estimated for 10-12%. Crystallinity of bone mineral in Nuragic skeleton evaluated by the EPR technique, adapted earlier by some of the authors of the present paper for biomedical studies on mineralised tissues, is only little changed after the centuries of its deposition in the tomb when compared with contemporary bone tissue. Comparison of chemical composition of Nuragic skeleton contaminated through slow percolation by rain of floods with that of contemporary bone sample shows the increase of the concentration of Fe, PO4, SiO2, Al and Mg, Fe, SiO2, AP are not present in contemporary bones. As expected, the contamination was minimal in tooth enamel.

Normalization of periodontal tissues in osteopetrotic mib mutant rats, treated with CSF-1

The osteopetrotic mib mutation in rats causes defects in the skeletal bone tissue in young animals. These defects, i.e. slow bone remodelling, changes in both crystallinity and mineral content, are transient and undergo normalization, even without any treatment in 6-wk-old animals. Treatment with CSF-1 (colony stimulating factor-1) accelerates the normalization process in skeletal bones. The periodontal tissues around the apices of incisors show abnormalities caused by the slow remodelling process of the mandible bone tissue, the deficiency of osteoclasts and their abnormal morphology, as well as the disorganization of periodontal ligament fibres. In contrast to the skeletal tissues, these abnormalities would not undergo spontaneous normalization. Under treatment with colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), the primitive bone trabeculae of mandible are resorbed and the normalization of the number of osteoclasts and their cytology occurs. The organization of the periodontal ligament fibres is partially restored, resembling the histological structure of the normal one.

School-based methylphenidate placebo protocols: methodological and practical issues

Around 1990, psychologists and educators began to notice increasing use of methylphenidate by students. Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by family physicians and pediatricians was most commonly based on brief behavioral descriptions by parents and, infrequently, by use of rating scales. At that time, the present researchers began to explore the development of a school-based, methodologically sound, and inexpensive method of assessing the efficacy of stimulant medications, which would ensure reasonable compliance by teachers, parents, and students in monitoring the effects of medications and placebos. This article focuses on the methodological issues involved in choosing instruments to monitor behavior, once a comprehensive evaluation has suggested trials on Ritalin. Case examples illustrate problems of teacher compliance in filling out measures, supplying adequate placebos, and obtaining physician cooperation, and with the practical issue of providing adequate data without overwhelming the time and resources of participants. Emerging school-based methodologies are discussed with recommendations for future efforts.

Alteration of mineral crystallinity and collagen cross-linking of bones in osteopetrotic toothless (tl/tl) rats and their improvement after treatment with colony stimulating factor-1

A common feature of various types of mammalian osteopetroses is a marked increase in bone mass accompanied by spontaneous bone fractures. The toothless (tl/tl) rat osteopetrotic mutation is characterized by drastically reduced bone resorption due to a profound deficiency of osteoclasts and their precursors. An altered bone morphology has also been observed. The mutants cannot be cured by bone marrow transplantation, but skeletal defects are greatly reduced after treatment with colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). The objectives of this study were to characterize mineral and collagen matrices in cancellous and compact bone isolated from long bones of 6-week-old normal littermates, tl/tl osteopetrotic mutants and mutants (tl/tl) treated with CSF-1. There were no differences in bone mineral content, but a significant decrease in the crystallinity of mineral evaluated by the method based on electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry was observed in all bones of tl/tl mutants as compared to that of controls. Within the collagen matrix, slight decreases in the labile cross-links, but significant increases in the content of the stable cross-links, pyridinoline, and deoxypyridinoline, were observed in both cancellous and compact bone of osteopetrotic mutants. In tl/tl mutants treated with human recombinant CSF-1, the normalization of the crystallinity of bone mineral as well as collagen cross-links was found. Our results indicate that remodeling of bone matrix in tl/tl mutants is highly suppressed, but that after treatment with CSF-1, this activity recovers significantly. Taken together, these data provide further support for the hypothesis that CSF-1 is an essential factor for normal osteoclast differentiation and bone remodelling.

Impaired tumor growth in colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1)-deficient, macrophage-deficient op/op mouse: evidence for a role of CSF-1-dependent macrophages in formation of tumor stroma

Macrophages have been suggested to play a major role in the immune response to cancer. They have also been suggested to stimulate the formation of tumor stroma and to promote tumor vascularization. The availability of the op/op mouse, which has no endogenous colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and which possesses a profound macrophage deficiency, provides a new model to verify these notions. Subcutaneous growth of transplantable Lewis lung cancer (LLC) is markedly impaired in the op/op mice compared with normal littermates. Treatment of tumor-bearing op/op mice with human recombinant CSF-1 corrects this impairment. Histological analysis of tumors grown in op/op and normal mice revealed marked differences. Tumors grown in op/op mice display a decreased mitotic index and pronounced necrosis, particularly hemorrhagic. Moreover, particularly in the op/op tumors, peculiar sinusoid-like abortive vessels (not filled with blood) have been observed. These tumors, in contrast to tumors grown in normal mice, are almost deprived of regular arteries and veins. In contrast to tumors grown in normal mice, they exhibit almost no Sirius red-stained collagenous fibers and Gomori silver-stained reticular fibers. Our data suggest that the CSF-1-dependent macrophage subpopulation missing in op/op mice plays a primary role in supporting tumor stroma formation and tumor vascularization in murine LLC tumors.

Administration of colony stimulating factor-1 corrects some macrophage, dental, and skeletal defects in an osteopetrotic mutation (toothless, tl) in the rat

The toothless (tl/tl) mutation in the rat results in a paucity of osteoclasts and osteopetrosis that cannot be corrected by bone marrow transplantation. In the present study we demonstrate that tl/tl rats also have profound deficiencies of femoral, peritoneal, and pleural cavity macrophages. Furthermore, the macrophage colony stimulating activity of post-endotoxin sera from tl/tl rats is substantially reduced, suggesting that, as in the case of the op mutation in mice, the basis of the tl mutation is a deficiency of the macrophage growth factor, colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1). Consistent with this suggestion, treatment of tl/tl rats from birth for up to six weeks with CSF-1 reduced the osteopetrosis, increased body weight, and permitted tooth eruption. In addition, CSF-1 treatment induced large numbers of osteoclasts in tl/tl bones and macrophages in the peritoneal cavity and bone marrow. Persistence of metaphyseal sclerosis, however, indicated that the disease was not totally corrected by this treatment. These studies indicate that the basis of the tl mutation is most likely another CSF-1 deficiency, and further emphasize the role of this growth factor in osteoclast differentiation.

Early and transient osteopetrosis in microphthalmic MIB-rats

Microphtalmic blanc mutation (mib/mib) displays a very mild form of osteopetrosis in rats. The autosomal recessive mib mutation shows pleiotropic expressions in homozygotes. Microphtalmia, absence of eye and skin pigmentation, retardation in the tooth eruption were observed in the mutants. Most bone abnormalities occurred in newborns. An increased radiological opacity of long bones, persistence of primitive bone in medullary cavities, reduced number of poorly differentiated osteoclasts in mandibulae, reduced number of mononuclear peritoneal cells as well as reduced number of mononuclear osteoclast precursors in peritoneal cell population were found. In 3 weeks old and in adult mutants, both bone structure and the number of mandible osteoclasts appear normal, but the number of blood monocytes, peritoneal cells and mononuclear osteoclast precursors in peritoneal cell population remain significantly lower than in the healthy littermates. These observations indicate that the early failure of osteoclast differentiation and maturation is transient in the mib/mib form of osteopetrosis.

[Difficulties in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosis--the LE phenomenon in pericardial effusion as the primary symptom of the disease]

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus is reported in a woman aged 41 years with exudative pericarditis as the predominating manifestation of the disease. Attention is called to the diagnostic usefulness of demonstration of LE cells in pericardial effusion.

Effect of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) and dichloromethylidene-bisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) on the structure of the organic matrix of heterotopically induced bone tissue

The effect of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) and dichloromethylidene-bisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) on the structure of the organic matrix of heterotopically induced bone in guinea pig was studied. Heterotopic bone formation was induced by transplantation of allogenic urinary bladder epithelium. Starting from the day of transplantation the animals were treated subcutaneously with HEBP and Cl2MBP with a dose of 12.5 mg P/kg/day during 35 days. The control group was injected with 0.9% NaCl solution. The advantage of heterotopic bone induction as an experimental model is the fact that the applied drugs act on de novo bone formation. Collagen fibers were treated as markers of bone because their size and spatial arrangement reflect the structure and maturity of organic matrix of this tissue. Decalcified histological sections of induced bone, taken 35 days after implantation of inductor, were stained by the picrosirius method. This staining enhances the natural birefringency of collagen fibers and allows for better and specific visualization of collagen fibers bundles under polarizing microscope. In this way the amount of information in the analysed image is increased. Thirty five microphotographs were analysed from each of the investigated groups with the use of optical diffractometry. The radial distribution of light intensity in diffraction patterns was analysed what allowed to evaluate spatial frequencies connected with the width of collagen bundles in induced bone tissue. Since the spatial arrangement of collagen fibers in newly formed bone is random, analysis of angular distribution of light intensity in diffractograms was not performed. Using discriminant analysis the significant differences between all three studied groups of animals were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)