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Objectives: Reconstruction of long segmental bone defects is demanding for patients and surgeons, and associated with long-term treatment periods and substantial complication rates in addition to high costs. While defects up to 4–5 cm length might be filled up with autologous bone graft, heterologous bone from cadavers, or artificial bone graft substitutes, current options to reconstruct bone defects greater than 5 cm consist of either vascularized free bone transfers, the Masquelet technique or the Ilizarov distraction osteogenesis. Alternatively, autologous cell transplantation is an encouraging treatment option for large bone defects as it eliminates problems such as limited autologous bone availability, allogenic bone immunogenicity, and donor-site morbidity, and might be used for stabilizing loose alloplastic implants. Methods: The authors show different cell therapies without expansion in culture, with ex vivo expansion and cell therapy in local bone defects, bone healing and osteonecrosis. Different kinds of cells and scaffolds investigated in our group as well as in vivo transfer studies and BMC used in clinical phase I and IIa clinical trials of our group are shown. Results: Our research history demonstrated the great potential of various stem cell species to support bone defect healing. It was clearly shown that the combination of different cell types is superior to approaches using single cell types. We further demonstrate that it is feasible to translate preclinically developed protocols from in vitro to in vivo experiments and follow positive convincing results into a clinical setting to use autologous stem cells to support bone healing.

In the paper titled "Characterization of Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells on Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering In Vitro," there was an error in the Acknowledgments. ...

Background and Purpose. Leukocyte migration into alveolar space plays a critical role in pulmonary inflammation resulting in lung injury. Acute ethanol (EtOH) exposure exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The clinical use of EtOH is critical due to its side effects. Here, we compared effects of EtOH and ethyl pyruvate (EtP) on neutrophil adhesion and activation of cultured alveolar epithelial cells (A549). Experimental Approach. Time course and dose-dependent release of interleukin- (IL-) 6 and IL-8 from A549 were measured after pretreatment of A549 with EtP (2.5–10 mM), sodium pyruvate (NaP, 10 mM), or EtOH (85–170 mM), and subsequent lipopolysaccharide or IL-1beta stimulation. Neutrophil adhesion to pretreated and stimulated A549 monolayers and CD54 surface expression were determined. Key Results. Treating A549 with EtOH or EtP reduced substantially the cytokine-induced release of IL-8 and IL-6. EtOH and EtP (but not NaP) reduced the adhesion of neutrophils to monolayers in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. CD54 expression on A549 decreased after EtOH or EtP treatment before IL-1beta stimulation. Conclusions and Implications. EtP reduces secretory and adhesive potential of lung epithelial cells under inflammatory conditions. These findings suggest EtP as a potential treatment alternative that mimics the anti-inflammatory effects of EtOH in early inflammatory response in lungs.

Treating large bone defects represents a major challenge in traumatic and orthopedic surgery. Bone tissue engineering provides a promising therapeutic option to improve the local bone healing response. In the present study tissue biocompatibility, systemic toxicity and tumorigenicity of a newly developed composite material consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) and 20% or 40% bioglass (BG20 and BG40), respectively, were analyzed. These materials were seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and tested in a rat calvarial critical size defect model for 3 months and compared to a scaffold consisting only of PLA. Serum was analyzed for organ damage markers such as GOT and creatinine. Leukocyte count, temperature and free radical indicators were measured to determine the degree of systemic inflammation. Possible tumor occurrence was assessed macroscopically and histologically in slides of liver, kidney and spleen. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and sodium oxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed as indicators of tumor progression. Qualitative tissue response towards the implants and new bone mass formation was histologically investigated. BG20 and BG40, with or without progenitor cells, did not cause organ damage, long-term systemic inflammatory reactions or tumor formation. BG20 and BG40 supported bone formation, which was further enhanced in the presence of EPCs and MSCs. This investigation reflects good biocompatibility of the biomaterials BG20 and BG40 and provides evidence that additionally seeding EPCs and MSCs onto the scaffold does not induce tumor formation.

Fragestellung: In einem ausgedehnten Knochendefekt kann das Einwachsen von knochenbildenden Zellen limitiert sein, da ohne Gefässe die Ernährung der regenerativen Zellen im Knochenkonstrukt insuffizient ist. Endotheliale Progenitorzellen (EPC) sind wichtig bei der Neovaskularisierung. Die frühe Vaskularisierung von grossen Knochendefekten kann für das Überleben und die Funktion von mesenchymalen Stammzellen (MSC) und knochenbildenden Zellen entscheidend sein. Kann die Implantation von EPC und MSC auf osteokonduktiven beta-Tricalciumphosphat (beta-TCP) in einem "critical-size" Knochendefekt des Femur von athymischen Ratten die frühe Vaskularisierung und die Knochenheilung in vivo verbessern? Methodik: Humane EPC wurden aus Buffy-Coat und humane MSC aus Knochenmarkaspirat durch Dichtezentrifugation isoliert. 2.5 x 105 kultivierte und differenzierte EPC und MSC wurden in vitro auf beta-TCP geladen. In 145 athymischen, männlichen Ratten wurde das Femur osteotomiert, ein 5 mm Knochendefekt erzeugt und mit Fixateur externe stabilisiert. Die Knochendefekte wurden mit beta-TCP (Gruppe 1), beta-TCP und MSC (Gruppe 2), beta-TCP und EPC (Gruppe 3), beta-TCP und EPC und MSC (Gruppe 4) oder autologem Knochen (Gruppe 5) gefüllt. Nach 1 Woche (n=40), 4 Wochen (n=40), 8 Wochen (n=40) und 12 Wochen (n=25) wurden die Ratten getötet. Bei Pinlockerung wurde die Ratte ausgeschlossen. Die (immun)histologische Analyse (Färbung mit HE, VEGF-R2, vWF) der Vaskularisierung und Knochenneubildung erfolgte mit Image-Analysis-System. Nach 8 und 12 Wochen erfolgte ein µCT und ein 4-Punkte-Biegungstest. Für die statistische Analyse wurde der Kruskal-Wallis-Test verwendet. Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerungen: Nach 1 Woche zeigte sich bei der Implantation von EPC/MSC und EPC allein signifikant mehr primitive vaskuläre Plexus (p=0.01;p=0.048) als in Vergleichsgruppen. Im Vergleich zur TCP Gruppe war in allen anderen Versuchsgruppen signifikant mehr Knochenneubildung zu sehen (p<0.01). Ausserdem war in d