The influence of alveolar bone healing degree on its potential as a source of human alveolar bone-derived cells.

Background: The concept of bone tissue engineering has emerged as a novel alternative approach that comprises three essential components: osteogenic cells, osteoinductive signals and osteoconductive scaffolds. The low-speed drilling represents a useful and accessible autologous source for human alveolar bone-derived cells (hABCs). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two donor sites (healing sites (HS) and non-augmented healed sites (NAHS)) as a source of hABCs.
Methods: Nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. The patients' demographic data were described. Bone type and dental implant location were also determined. The hABCs obtained were characterized. Apoptosis and sclerostin expression in the samples were also assessed with immunohistochemistry.
Results: The hABCs left earlier the tissue explants of the HS than the NAHS. The proliferation of the hABCs had reached the sub-confluence stage in both groups. Cellular efficacy was not statistically significant between the two groups. The hABCs exhibited osteogenic phenotype as they expressed bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OP) and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). In both groups, the level and the distribution pattern of apoptotic cells and sclerostin expression were similar.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, both HS and NAHS were similarly effective to provide hABCs.
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