Coordination of Osteoblastogenesis and Osteoclastogenesis by the Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix To Promote Bone Regeneration

Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based therapies have been developed to improve bone repair because of their abundance of bioactive components. Besides the osteogenic promotion and the immune response, the potential effect of the ECM on the coordination between osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis in vivo should also deserve great attention because both osteoblasts and osteoclasts get involved in bone regeneration and are critical for the final repair outcome. Herein, based on our previous study on decellularization, antigen removal, and growth factor retention, porous poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds decorated with the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived ECM were prepared, and the functions of the ECM on BMSC osteogenic differentiation and osteoclastogenesis in vitro were preferentially investigated. Afterward, bone regeneration and osteoclast formation in vivo induced by ECM-decorated PLGA scaffolds were further studied. The in vitro tests revealed that ECM-decorated PLGA scaffolds obviously facilitated BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. However, when osteoclast precursors were cultured on the BMSC-derived ECM, the number and size of osteoclasts, expression of cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase 9, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity were notably decreased, accompanied by the reduction in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Interestingly, the addition of exogenous hydrogen peroxide elevated the osteoclast amount on the ECM and up-regulated the resorption-related enzyme levels, implying that the repressive effect of the BMSC-derived ECM on osteoclasts may be related to the intracellular ROS. After implantation into calvarial defects, the ECM-decorated PLGA scaffolds significantly increased bone volume and bone mineral density compared with bare PLGA scaffolds and did not stimulate the overmuch formation of osteoclasts in vivo. This study evidenced that the BMSC-derived ECM may coordinate osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis and promote favorable bone formation without stimulating bone resorption.