Encapsulation of bone morphogenic protein-2 with Cbfa1-overexpressing osteogenic cells derived from human embryonic stem cells in hydrogel accelerates bone tissue regeneration

Abstract

Bone tissue defects caused by trauma and disease are significant problems in orthopedic surgery. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promise for the treatment of bone tissue disease in regenerative medicine. In this study, we have established an effective method for the differentiation of osteogenic cells derived from hESCs using a lentiviral vector containing the transcription factor Cbfa1. Differentiation was initiated in embryoid body formation of Cbfa1-expressing hESCs, resulting in a highly purified population of osteogenic cells based on flow cytometric analysis. These cells also showed characteristics of osteogenic cells in vitro, as determined by reverse-transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry using osteoblast-specific markers. We also evaluated the regenerative potential of Cbfa1-expressing cells derived from hESCs (hESC-CECs) compared with hESCs and the osteogenic effects of bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP2) encapsulated in thermoreversible hydrogel in vivo. hESC-CECs were embedded in hydrogel constructs enriched with BMP2 to promote bone regeneration. We observed prominent mineralization and the formation of nodule-like structures using von Kossa and alizarin red S staining. In addition, the expression patterns of osteoblast-specific genes were verified by RT-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that collagen type 1 and Cbfa1 were highly expressed in hESC-CECs compared with other cell types. Taken together, our results suggest that encapsulation of hESC-CECs with BMP2 in hydrogel constructs appears to be a promising method to enhance the in vitro osteoblastic differentiation and in vivo osteogenic activity of hESC-CECs.