Trilineage differentiation potential of periosteal cells from endochondral and intramembranous origin

01/09/2019 to 31/08/2021

The periosteum is a highly vascularized bilayer membrane covering the surfaces of bone. The outer “fibrous” layer consists of fibroblasts abundant amounts of extracellular components such as collagens and elastin giving stability and elasticity to the periosteum. In contrast, the inner “cambium” layer contains progenitor cells which are crucial for bone formation and repair.

The periosteum exhibits osteogenic potential and has received considerable attention as a promising cell source for bone regeneration strategies. The high proliferation capacity and the simple availability compared to other sources of mesenchymal progenitor cells display big advantages as in vitro cell expansion is often a prerequisite for tissue engineered constructs. However, if and to which extent the harvest location affects the function of the periosteal derived cells is still unclear.

In the framework of this project we aim to compare the in vitro differentiation potential of human periosteum derived cells (hPDC) from endochondral and intramembranous origin. We hypothesize that differences in the developmental origin of the periosteum will influence the behavior and/or potency of hPDCs. We assume that due to the natural tendency for intramembranous ossification and the uniquely high bone remodeling occurring within the jaw, human JPDCs (jaw periosteal derived cells) represent a progenitor cell source with superior osteogenic properties. This would make hJPDCs more favorable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) of intramembranous bone.

This study is crucial for the characterization of hPDCs and can be used to guide clinical strategies that exploit periostea for tissue engineering and clinical applications. The present project may foster translational approaches for bone constructs which is of major interest for cranio-maxillofacial-, trauma- and orthopedic surgery.