<i>In vitro</i> Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured with Hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi ₂O₇) and β-TCP Ceramics

Abstract

The effects of hardystonite (Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7), CSZn) and tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were compared by directly culturing MSCs on ceramic disks (contact mode) or separately culturing cells with ceramic disks (non-contact mode). In non-contact mode, the CSZn ceramic supported MSC proliferation more strongly than did the beta-TCP ceramic. However, in contact mode, the MSCs proliferated more quickly on the beta-TCP ceramic than they did on the CSZn ceramic. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and osteogenic gene expression analysis showed that the CSZn and beta-TCP ceramics had significant effects on the promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in both non-contact and contact mode. Furthermore, in contact mode, the CSZn disk promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs more strongly than did the beta-TCP disks. Even without the induction of dexamethasone and beta-glycerophosphate, CSZn stimulated the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. These results suggest that CSZn ceramic would be a useful candidate material for bone regeneration and hard tissue engineering.