Combined Use of Recombinant Human BMP-7 and Osteogenic Media May Have No Ideal Synergistic Effect on Leporine Bone Regeneration of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded on Nanohydroxyapatite/Collagen/Poly (l-Lactide)

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are a promising alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are enormously attractive for clinical use. This study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) and/or osteogenic media (OMD) on bone regeneration of hUC-MSCs seeded on nanohydroxyapatite/collagen/poly(l-lactide) (nHAC/PLA) in a rabbit model. The characteristics of stem cells were analyzed by plastic adherence, cell phenotype, and multilineage differentiation potential. Cell proliferation was examined using cell counting kit-8 assay. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by quantitative Ca2+ concentration, PO43− concentration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OCN) secretion, and mineralized matrix formation. Bone regeneration was investigated in jaw bone defect repair in rabbit by microcomputed tomography, fluorescent labeling, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Except for initial stress response, OMD and OMD + rhBMP-7 inhibited the proliferation of hUC-MSCs seeded on nHAC/PLA; rhBMP-7 inhibited cell proliferation in the nonlogarithmic phase and attenuated the inhibitory effect of OMD on cell proliferation. The inhibitory effects of OMD, rhBMP-7, and OMD + rhBMP-7 on cell proliferation were ranked as OMD > OMD + rhBMP-7 > rhBMP-7. OMD, rhBMP-7, and OMD + rhBMP-7 promoted Ca2+ concentration, PO43− concentration, ALP activity, OCN secretion, and mineralized matrix formation of hUC-MSCs seeded on nHAC/PLA. The promoting effects of OMD, rhBMP-7, and OMD+rhBMP-7 on Ca2+ concentration, PO43− concentration, ALP activity, OCN secretion, and mineralized matrix formation were ranked as rhBMP-7 > OMD > OMD + rhBMP-7, OMD > OMD + rhBMP-7 > rhBMP-7, OMD > rhBMP-7 > OMD + rhBMP-7, rhBMP-7 > OMD + rhBMP-7 > OMD, and OMD > rhBMP-7 > OMD + rhBMP-7, respectively. In rabbit jaw bone defect repair, OMD, rhBMP-7, and OMD + rhBMP-7 enhanced bone regeneration of hUC-MSCs seeded on nHAC/PLA, but the largest bone mineral apposition rate and bone formation were presented in cultures with rhBMP-7. These findings suggested that the combined use of rhBMP-7 and OMD may have no ideal synergistic effect on bone regeneration of hUC-MSCs seeded on nHAC/PLA in rabbit jaw bone defect.