Upregulating CXCR4 in human fetal mesenchymal stem cells enhances engraftment and bone mechanics in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta.

ABSTRACT: Stem cells have considerable potential to repair damaged organs and tissues. We previously showed that prenatal transplantation of human first trimester fetal blood mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSCs) in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta (oim mice) led to a phenotypic improvement, with a marked decrease in fracture rate. Donor cells differentiated into mature osteoblasts, producing bone proteins and minerals, including collagen type Iα2, which is absent in nontransplanted mice. This led to modifications of the bone matrix and subsequent decrease of bone brittleness, indicating that grafted cells directly contribute to improvement of bone mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effect was incomplete, attributing to the limited level of engraftment in bone. In this study, we

SUBMITTER: Jones GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3727689 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature