Search

Background: The integration of stem cells, signaling molecules, and biomaterial scaffolds is fundamental for the successful engineering of functional bone tissue. Currently, the development of composite scaffolds has emerged as an attractive approach to meet the criteria of ideal scaffolds utilized in bone tissue engineering (BTE) for facilitating bone regeneration in bone defects. Recently, the incorporation of polycaprolactone (PCL) with hydroxyapatite (HA) has been developed as one of the suitable substitutes for BTE applications owing to their promising osteogenic properties. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold composed of PCL integrated with HA (PCL/HA) was prepared and assessed for its ability to support osteogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, this scaffold was evaluated explicitly for its efficacy in promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (cBM-MSCs) to fill the knowledge gap regarding the use of composite scaffolds for BTE in the veterinary orthopedics field., Results: Our findings indicate that the PCL/HA scaffolds substantially supported the proliferation of cBM-MSCs. Notably, the group subjected to osteogenic induction exhibited a markedly upregulated expression of the osteogenic gene osterix (OSX) compared to the control group. Additionally, the construction of 3D scaffold constructs with differentiated cells and an extracellular matrix (ECM) was successfully imaged using scanning electron microscopy. Elemental analysis using a scanning electron microscope coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed that these constructs possessed the mineral content of bone-like compositions, particularly the presence of calcium and phosphorus., Conclusions: This research highlights the synergistic potential of PCL/HA scaffolds in concert with cBM-MSCs, presenting a multidisciplinary approach to scaffold fabrication that effectively regulates cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Future in vivo studies focusing on the repair and regeneration of bone defects are warranted to further explore the regenerative capacity of these constructs, with the ultimate goal of assessing their potential in veterinary clinical applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To better understand molecular aspects of equine endometrial function, there is a need for advanced in vitro culture systems that more closely imitate the intricate 3-dimensional (3D) in vivo endometrial structure than current techniques. However, development of a 3D in vitro model of this complex tissue is challenging. This study aimed to develop an in vitro 3D endometrial tissue (3D-ET) with an epithelial cell phenotype optimized by treatment with a Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor. Equine endometrial epithelial (eECs) and mesenchymal stromal (eMSCs) cells were isolated separately, and eECs cultured in various concentrations of Rock inhibitor (0, 5, 10 µmol) in epithelial medium (EC-medium) containing 10% knock-out serum replacement (KSR). The optimal concentration of Rock inhibitor for enhancing eEC proliferation and viability was 10 µM. However, 10 µM Rock inhibitor in the 10% KSR EC-medium was able to maintain mucin1 (Muc1) gene expression for only a short period. In contrast, fetal bovine serum (FBS) was able to maintain Muc1 gene expression for longer culture durations. An in vitro 3D-ET was successfully constructed using a collagen-based scaffold to support the eECs and eMSCs. The 3D-ET closely mimicked in vivo endometrium by displaying gland-like eEC-derived structures positive for the endometrial gland marker, Fork headbox A2 (FOXA2), and by mimicking the 3D morphology of the stromal compartment. In addition, the 3D-ET expressed the secretory protein MUC1 on its glandular epithelial surface and responded to LPS challenge by upregulating the expression of the interleukin-6 (IL6) and prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) genes (P < 0.01), along with an increase in their secretory products, IL-6 (P < 0.01) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α) (P < 0.001) respectively. In the future, this culture system can be used to study both normal physiology and pathological processes of the equine endometrium., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Oral and maxillofacial (OMF) defects are not limited to humans and are often encountered in other species. Reconstructing significant tissue defects requires an excellent strategy for efficient and cost-effective treatment. In this regard, tissue engineering comprising stem cells, scaffolds, and signaling molecules is emerging as an innovative approach to treating OMF defects in veterinary patients. This review presents a comprehensive overview of OMF defects and tissue engineering principles to establish proper treatment and achieve both hard and soft tissue regeneration in veterinary practice. Moreover, bench-to-bedside future opportunities and challenges of tissue engineering usage are also addressed in this literature review., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Purbantoro, Taephatthanasagon, Purwaningrum, Hirankanokchot, Peralta, Fiani, Sawangmake and Rattanapuchpong.)