ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of microencapsulated transgenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on early steroid induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) in rabbits.MethodsAlginate poly-L-lysine-sodium alginate (APA) microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs with high expression of Foxc2 were prepared by high-voltage electrostatic method. Part of the cells were cultured in osteoblasts and observed by alizarin red staining at 2 and 3 weeks. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were used to prepare SONFH models by using hormone and endotoxin. Thirty two rabbits who were successful modeling were screened out by MRI and randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D, n=8); another 6 normal rabbits were taken as normal control (group E). The rabbits in group A did not receive any treatment; and in groups B, C, and D were injected with normal saline, allogeneic BMSCs, and APA microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs respectively after core decompression. At 6 and 12 weeks after operation, specimens of femoral head were taken for HE staining to observe bone ingrowth; the expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), peroxisome proliferative activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins were observed by immunohistochemistry staining. At 12 weeks after operation, the bone microstructure was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the maximum compressive strength and average elastic modulus of cancellous bone and subchondral bone were measured by biomechanics.ResultsAfter 2 and 3 weeks of induction culture, alizarin red staining showed the formation of calcium nodules, and the number of calcium nodules increased at 3 weeks when compared with 2 weeks. The rabbits in each group survived until the experiment was completed. Compared with groups A, B, and C, the trabeculae of group D were more orderly, the empty bone lacunae were less, there were abundant functional organelles, and obvious osteogenesis was observed, and the necrotic area was completely repaired at 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining showed that, at 6 and 12 weeks after operation, the expressions of OCN and VEGF in groups A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in groups D and E, while those in groups B and C were significantly higher than those in group A, and in group E than in group D (P<0.05). The expression of PPARγ-2 was significantly higher in groups A, B, and C than in groups D and E, and in group A than in groups B and C, and in group D than in group E (P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, biomechanical test showed that the average elastic modulus and maximum compressive strength of cancellous bone and subchondral bone in groups D and E were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, and C (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups A, B, and C and between groups D and E (P>0.05).ConclusionIn vivo transplantation of microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs can repair early SONFH in rabbits.
