iPSgen BoneReg

iPS cell generation from jaw periosteum: is the resulting osteogenic capacity more efficient?

01/06/2017 to 31/05/2019

Jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) are in a particular way pre-defined due to the high mechanical stress they have to withstand during the mastication process. This unique specialization of this cell type makes them attractive candidates for cell-based therapies for oral and maxillofacial surgeries.
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are considered to be the most promising stem cell source for regenerative therapies based on their pluripotency and unlimited supply. From the perspective of clinical applications in oral and maxillofacial surgeries, jaw periosteal cells are easily accessible to generate autologous human iPS cells.
The present project proposal aims to generate for the first time iPS cells from human JPCs (JPiPS cells) and to compare their osteogenic potential with that of the somatic JPCs. The generation of autologous iPS cells is mandatory to overcome our everyday problems of limited cell numbers, stressful magnetic progenitor cell separations, occurring cell senescence during in vitro cell passaging and insufficient osteogenic potential of some JPCs in vitro. We expect to solve these problems and especially improve the osteogenic potential of the developed 3-dimensional constructs to ensure the success of future bone tissue engineering applications.