Effects of dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and endothelial progenitor cells on repair of large radius defects and vascular regeneration
10.3760/cma.j.cn115530-20241009-00398
- VernacularTitle:血管束与内皮祖细胞联合构建的双重血管化组织工程骨对桡骨大段骨缺损修复及血管再生的影响
- Author:
Yulei WANG
1
;
Fanzhe FENG
;
Junhong SHEN
;
Zhongzheng YU
;
Jingyuan LI
;
Nengqi SHAO
;
Wenhao XU
;
Yi LUO
;
Yi CUI
Author Information
1. 大理大学临床医学院，大理 671000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Neovascularization;
Tissue engineering;
Bone regeneration;
Tissue scaffold
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
2025;27(4):348-357
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effects of dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on repair of large bone defects and vascular regeneration.Methods:EPCs were seeded on the demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffolds and cultured for 6 days. The attachment and morphology of EPCs on DBM scaffolds were observed by electron microscopy. Next, the radial artery was implanted into a vascular groove opened inside the DBM-EPCs composite scaffolds. Finally, models of a large segmental bone defect were constructed using the radii from 18 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups using a simple random sampling method: DBM group, DBM+EPCs group, DBM+vascular bundle group, and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. The DBM group and DBM+EPCs group shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively; the DBM+vascular bundle group and DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group also shared the same rabbits so that transplantations were conducted into the left and right forearms respectively. Consequently, there were 9 experimental sites in each group. X-ray examination and gross morphological observation were performed to evaluate the bone regeneration in the experimental rabbits in each group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, and CD31 immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the vascular regeneration. Micro-CT was used to analyze bone tissue parameters and reconstruct the three-dimensional structures of the defects site at 12 weeks after surgery.Results:Compared with the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups, the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group showed new bone tissue crawling on the scaffold surface at 4 weeks after surgery, almost complete healing of the bone defect area at 8 weeks, and forming of a complete and dense bone bridge and appearance of a bone marrow cavity at 12 weeks. Micro-CT data at 12 weeks after surgery showed regular arrangement of the trabeculae, significantly improved mineralization, and increased thickness of the bone cortex in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group. Additionally, in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group, the number of microvessels was significantly higher than that in the other groups at 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery ( P<0.05), and the angiogenesis and bone tissue regeneration were particularly prominent at 12 weeks after surgery. The number of CD31 cells in the DBM+EPCs+vascular bundle group increased significantly more than that in the DBM, DBM+EPCs and DBM+vascular bundle groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As the dual vascularized tissue-engineered bone constructed by vascular bundles and EPCs can significantly promote bone tissue regeneration and angiogenesis, it may be a potential therapeutic strategy for repair of large bone defects.
