Osteogenesis and angiogenesis are two closely correlated processes during bone growth, development, remodelling and repair.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an essential mediator during the process of angiogenesis. Based on an extensive literature search, which was carried out using the PubMed database and the keywords of osteogenesis, VEGF, endochondral ossification and intramembranous ossification, this manuscript reviews the role of VEGF in ossification, with emphasis on its effect in endochondral and intramembranous ossification. Osteogenesis and angiogenesis are closely correlated processes. VEGF acts as an essential mediator during these processes. It not only functions in bone angiogenesis but also in various aspects of bone development.
Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; cytology ; physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; physiology ; Cartilage ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; physiology ; Osteoclasts ; physiology ; Osteogenesis ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; physiology

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hormone that is mainly secreted by osteocytes and osteoblasts in bone. The critical role of FGF23 in mineral ion homeostasis was first identified in human genetic and acquired rachitic diseases and has been further characterised in animal models. Recent studies have revealed that the levels of FGF23 increase significantly at the very early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may play a critical role in mineral ion disorders and bone metabolism in these patients. Our recent publications have also shown that FGF23 and its cofactor, Klotho, may play an independent role in directly regulating bone mineralisation instead of producing a systematic effect. In this review, we will discuss the new role of FGF23 in bone mineralisation and the pathophysiology of CKD-related bone disorders.
Calcification, Physiologic ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; physiology ; Glucuronidase ; metabolism ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore chemical component changes of dog bone at different lengthening time and in different bone regions of interest, and to evaluate the mineralization during Ilizarov lengthening process.

METHODSThe ash weight, the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and the calcium/phosphorus ratio were measured at different intervals (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 weeks) since lengthening and the lengthened part was compared with a control area at each interval.

RESULTSThe ash weight, the concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the lengthened area differed at all development time. The calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio in the lengthened region remained significantly lower than that in the control region up to 12 weeks after the lengthening.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that also other inorganic ions play an important role in the mineralization process and that they become relatively more important since 8 weeks after the lengthening.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; Calcification, Physiologic ; physiology ; Calcium ; analysis ; Dogs ; Ilizarov Technique ; Minerals ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; Random Allocation

It has recently been reported that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are systemically administrated to different species, undergo site-specific differentiation. This suggests that the tissue specific cells may cause or promote the differentiation of the MSCs toward their cell type via a cell-to-cell interaction that is mediated not only by hormones and cytokines, but also by direct cell-to-cell contact. In this study, in order to assess the possible synergistic interactions for osteogenesis between the two types of cells, the MSCs derived from rabbit bone marrow were co-cultured with rat calvarial osteoblasts in direct cell-to-cell contact in a control medium (CM) and in an osteogenic medium (OM). The cell number, alkaline phosphatase activity, and amount of calcium deposition were assayed in the cultures of MSCs, osteoblasts, and co-cultures of them in either OM or CM for up to 40 days. The cell numbers and the alkaline phosphatase activities in the co-culture were somewhere in between those of the osteoblast cultures and the MSC cultures. The amounts of deposited calcium were lower in the co-culture compared to those of the other cultures. This suggests that there are little synergistic interactions during osteogenesis in vitro between the rat osteoblasts and rabbit MSCs.
Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; Calcification, Physiologic ; *Cell Communication ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Female ; Mesoderm/*cytology ; Osteoblasts/*physiology ; *Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells/*physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of zinc deficiency on bone mineralization.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups with ten in each group, i.e., zinc-deficient group (ZD), control group, and pair-fed group. Histomorphological changes of bone mineralization, bone mineral content and bone density, bone contents of zinc, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper and hydroxyproline, and serum levels of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and osteocalcin in the rats were measured.

RESULTSThe results showed that the mineral deposit rate and bone contents of zinc, phosphorus and hydroxyproline, and serum levels of calcitonin and osteocalcin lowered significantly in ZD group, as compared with those in the control and pair-fed groups, with (3.26 +/- 0.34) micro m/d, (64.54 +/- 2.34) g/kg, (54.4 +/- 9.5) mg/kg, (9.28 +/- 1.62) g/kg, (41.2 +/- 13.5) micro g/L, (82 +/- 30) micro g/L in ZD group; (5.37 +/- 0.53) micro m/d, (69.01 +/- 4.05) g/kg, (117.4 +/- 8.0) mg/kg, (11.31 +/- 1.30) g/kg, (68.3 +/- 14.4) micro g/L, (131 +/- 46) micro g/L in the control group; and (5.45 +/- 0.30) micro m/d, (67.81 +/- 3.56) g/kg, (106.7 +/- 8.4) mg/kg, (10.88 +/- 1.47) g/kg, (63.7 +/- 12.0) micro g/L, (120 +/- 52) micro g/L in the pair-fed group, respectively. While the time for mineralization lag and osteoid maturation obviously prolonged, (1.08 +/- 0.19) d and (7.12 +/- 2.30) d in ZD group, (0.39 +/- 0.06) d and (2.21 +/- 1.12) d in the control group, and (0.40 +/- 0.06) d and (2.12 +/- 0.58) d in the pair-fed group, respectively. In addition, bone mineral content and bone density and serum parathyroid hormone in ZD group decreased significantly and were lower than those in the control group, but not significantly different from those in the pair-fed group. There were no significant difference in femoral contents of calcium, magnesium, manganese and copper between the ZD group and the control and pair-fed groups.

CONCLUSIONSZinc deficiency could lower the contents of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in blood circulation affecting bone mineral deposit and causing defect in bone mineralization.

Animals ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic ; physiology ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Female ; Male ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Zinc ; deficiency

The traditional costicartilage analysis inspection is limited to morphological inspection. In recent years, with the development of forensic radiology and molecular genetics, the costicartilage analysis inspection technology has been further enriched and developed. At present, the costicartilage analysis inspection technology have been able to be used in the practice of forensic medicine. This paper reviews the research advances about the costicartilage analysis inspection technology in the identification of human gender, age and so on in order to provide the references for forensic appraisers.
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Age Factors ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Cartilage/physiology* ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Ribs/physiology* ; Sex Characteristics ; Sex Determination Analysis/methods*

Distraction osteogenesis is currently a standard method of bone lengthening. It is a viable method for the treatment of short extremities as well as extensive bone defects, because large amounts of bone can be regenerated in the distraction gap. echanical stimulation by distraction induces biological responses of skeletal regeneration that is accomplished by a cascade of biologic processes that may include differentiation of pluripotential tissue, angiogenesis, mineralization, and remodeling. There are complex interactions between bone-forming osteoblasts and other cells present within the bone microenvironment, particularly vascular endothelial cells that may be pivotal members of a complex interactive communication network in bone. Regenerate bone forms by three modes of ossification, which include intramembranous, enchondral, and transchondroid ossifications, although intramembraneous bone formation is the predominant mechanism of ossification. In this review we discussed the coupling between angiogenesis and mineralization, the biological and mechanical factors affecting them, the cellular and molecular events occurring during distraction osteogenesis, and the emerging modalities to accelerate regenerate bone healing and remodeling.
Animals ; Biological Markers ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bone and Bones/radiography/ultrastructure ; Calcification, Physiologic/*physiology ; Collagen/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Growth Substances/metabolism ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/*physiology ; Osteoblasts/physiology ; *Osteogenesis, Distraction ; *Transforming Growth Factor beta

The aim of this study is to investigate a new method for preparing a biomimetic bone material-surface modified sintered bovine cancellous bone, and to improve its bioactivity as a tissue engineering bone. The prepared sintered bovine cancellous bones with the same size were randomly divided into two groups, immersing in 1 and 1. 5 times simulated body fluid (SBF), respectively. The three time periods of soak time were 7, 14, and 21 days. After sintered bone was dried, the surface morphology of sintered bone and surface mineralization composition were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By comparing the effect of surface modification of sintered bone materials, we chose the most ideal material and studied its pore size, the rate of the porosity, the compress and bend intensity. And then the material and the sintered bone material without surface modification were compared. The study indicated that sintered bone material immersed in SBF (1.5 times) for 14 days showed the best effect of surface modification, retaining the original physico-chemical properties of sintered bone.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Biomimetic Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Bone Substitutes ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Calcification, Physiologic ; physiology ; Cattle ; Chemical Phenomena ; Hydroxyapatites ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Alternative sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for replacing bone marrow (BM) have been extensively investigated in the field of bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of canine MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT), BM, umbilical cord blood (UCB), and Wharton's jelly (WJ) using in vitro culture techniques and in vivo orthotopic implantation assays. After canine MSCs were isolated from various tissues, the proliferation and osteogenic potential along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production were measured and compared in vitro. For the in vivo assay, MSCs derived from each type of tissue were mixed with beta-tricalcium phosphate and implanted into segmental bone defects in dogs. Among the different types of MSCs, AT-MSCs had a higher proliferation potential and BM-MSCs produced the most VEGF. AT-MSCs and UCB-MSCs showed greater in vitro osteogenic potential compared to the other cells. Radiographic and histological analyses showed that all tested MSCs had similar osteogenic capacities, and the level of new bone formation was much higher with implants containing MSCs than cell-free implants. These results indicate that AT-MSCs, UCB-MSCs, and WJ-MSCs can potentially be used in place of BM-MSCs for clinical bone engineering procedures.
Adipocytes, White/cytology/physiology ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials/metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Bone Diseases/*therapy ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology/physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium/metabolism ; Calcium Phosphates/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Dogs ; Female ; Fetal Blood/cytology/physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; *Osteogenesis ; Polyesters/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism

AIMTo evaluate the effects of maxillary sinus floor elevation by a tissue-engineered bone complex of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and autologous osteoblasts in dogs.

METHODOLOGYAutologous osteoblasts from adult Beagle dogs were cultured in vitro. They were further combined with beta-TCP to construct the tissue-engineered bone complex. 12 cases of maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery were made bilaterally in 6 animals and randomly repaired with the following 3 groups of materials: Group A (osteoblasts/beta-TCP); Group B (beta-TCP); Group C (autogenous bone) (n=4 per group). A polychrome sequential fluorescent labeling was performed post-operatively and the animals were sacrificed 24 weeks after operation for histological observation.

RESULTSOur results showed that autologous osteoblasts were successfully expanded and the osteoblastic phenol-types were confirmed by ALP and Alizarin red staining. The cells could attach and proliferate well on the surface of the beta-TCP scaffold. The fluorescent and histological observation showed that the tissue-engineered bone complex had an earlier mineralization and more bone formation inside the scaffold than beta-TCP along or even autologous bone. It had also maximally maintained the elevated sinus height than both control groups.

CONCLUSIONPorous beta-TCP has served as a good scaffold for autologous osteoblasts seeding. The tissue-engineered bone complex with beta-TCP and autologous osteoblasts might be a better alternative to autologous bone for the clinical edentulous maxillary sinus augmentation.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Alveolar Ridge Augmentation ; methods ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Biocompatible Materials ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Bone Transplantation ; pathology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; physiology ; Calcium Phosphates ; therapeutic use ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Dogs ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal ; methods ; Maxilla ; surgery ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Models, Animal ; Osteoblasts ; transplantation ; Osteogenesis ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Transplantation, Autologous