Bone regeneration capacity of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in rabbit periodontitis-induced bone defect model

Introduction
Periodontitis is one of the most common oral infectious disease. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) have become widely studied for their possibilities for regeneration of periodontal bone defect. However, bone regeneration efficiency of AD-MSCs combined with transplantation materials in periodontal bone defects remains unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of two repair methods with and without application of AD-MSCs in a rabbit’s periodontal defect model.

Material and methods
Experimental periodontitis was initiated in eighteen rabbits. Animals were divided into two groups, including Col-HA only (group 1) and Col-HA + AD-MSCs (group 2), and implanted in rabbit periodontitis-induced bone defect. To evaluate difference in these two groups, we used histological analysis of the samples and X-ray. For comparison of grey-level frequency in X-ray samples of the two groups, Otsu’s method was applied.

Results
Post-operative wounds in group 2 healed three days earlier than in group 1, starting from a formation of fibrous tissue, cartilage, and osteoid tissue, and ending with a formation of full-plate bone tissue. X-ray evaluations showed that more intensive reparative regeneration in post-operative bone cavity was observed in animals of group 2. The 90th day samples with AD-MSCs presented more differentiated gray-level than the 90th day samples without AD-MSCs.

Conclusions
The results of the study suggest that the use of transplantation material (Col-HA) with AD-MSCs has positive effects, contributing to the improvement of reparative regeneration of bone tissue in the periodontal bone defect area.