Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy For Periodontal Regeneration

Objectives: In order to establish ‘true' periodontal tissue engineering, the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapy for periodontal regeneration need to be investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transplantation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) for periodontal tissue regeneration. Methods: Furcation class II bone defects (4x3mm) were surgically created on　bilateral mandibular third and fourth premolars of 5 beagle dogs. The defects were then filled with vinyl polysiloxane impression material. Four weeks after the operation, granulation tissue was removed from the inflamed furcation. In another experiment, 2-wall intrabony defects (5x4x3mm) were surgically created on the mesial sides of bilateral mandibular first molars. ADSC were isolated from greater omentum of each beagle dog and expanded in vitro. ADSC were then transplanted into each defect described above with a fibrin carrier material (Bolheal®). Six weeks after the transplantation, periodontal regeneration in those defects was evaluated by micro-computed tomography (μCT) and histological procedures. Results: μCT analysis revealed the significantly greater amount of bone regeneration in the ADSC-applied sites than in the carrier applied sites in both class II furcation and 2-wall intrabony defect models. Histological observations demonstrated the periodontal regeneration accompanied with neogenesis of periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and cementum in ADSC applied sites. No ankylosis or root resorption was observed in all ADSC sites. Conclusion: These results clearly indicate that ADSC transplantation can induce significant periodontal regeneration in an appropriate and safe manner. This information is crucial for the successive translational research toward the clinical application of ADSC for periodontal regeneration.