Enhancement of osteogenesis using a combination of hydroxyapatite and stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth

Periodontal regeneration, especially regeneration of alveolar bone, remains difficult to achieve with the result that alternative therapies for achieving periodontal regeneration are still lacking. Tissue engineering using stem cells and biomaterial scaffold represents an alternative for solving this problem. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are one source of adult stem cells which can proliferate and differentiate into many types of specific cells. Hydroxyapatite (HA) constitutes a bioactive scaffold possessing osseointegration, osteoconduction and osteogenesis properties when used as bone graft. The aim of this study was to analyze osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) expression after the application of a combination of HA and SHED to alveolar bone defects. Eight experimental animals were divided into two groups. The first group was transplanted with HA only, while the second was transplanted with HA/SHED. The expression of OCN and OPN was examined 21 days later by means of immunohistochemistry analysis. The analysis result of an independent T-test with significance value p= 0,0041 < 0.05 showed a significant difference between the two groups. The HA/SHED group showed a significantly higher expression of OCN and OPN than that of the HA only group. Transplantation of a combination of HA and SHED onto alveolar defects increases the expression of OCN and OPN.