Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cell-embedded in situ crosslinkable gelatin hydrogel therapy recovers postmenopausal osteoporosis through bone regeneration

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 7; p. e0200111
• Main Authors: Kim, Gyungah, Park, Yoon Shin, Lee, Yunki, Jin, Yoon Mi, Choi, Da Hyeon, Ryu, Kyung-Ha, Park, Yoon Jeong, Park, Ki Dong, Jo, Inho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.07.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Biocompatibility; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomedical materials; Bone growth; Bone marrow; Bone regeneration; Care and treatment; Children; Computed tomography; Crosslinking; Deformation effects; Femur; Fractures; Gelatin; Health aspects; Hormone replacement therapy; Hydrogels; Hypercalcemia; Image reconstruction; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mesenchyme; Mice; Mouse devices; Older people; Osteocalcin; Osteogenesis; Osteoporosis; Ovariectomy; Physical Sciences; Post-menopause; Postmenopausal women; Propionic acid; Regeneration; Regeneration (physiology); Research and Analysis Methods; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Studies; Therapy; Tonsil; Tonsillectomy; Womens health; South Korea
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200111

We investigated therapeutic potential of human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSC) subcutaneously delivered to ovariectomized (OVX) mice for developing more safe and effective therapy for osteoporosis. TMSC were isolated from tonsil tissues of children undergoing tonsillectomy, and TMSC-embedded in situ crosslinkable gelatin-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid hydrogel (TMSC-GHH) or TMSC alone were delivered subcutaneously to the dorsa of OVX mice. After 3 months, three-dimensionally reconstructed micro-computed tomographic images revealed better recovery of the femoral heads in OVX mice treated with TMSC-GHH. Serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were also recovered, indicating bone formation only in TMSC-GHH-treated mice, and absence in hypercalcemia or other severe macroscopic deformities showed biocompatibility of TMSC-GHH. Additionally, visceral fat reduction effects by TMSC-GHH further supported their therapeutic potential. TMSC provided therapeutic benefits toward osteoporosis only when embedded in GHH, and showed potential as a supplement or alternative to current therapies.