Objective To study the differentiation of the human osteoblasts during the construction of the tissue engineered periosteum with the human acellular amniotic membrane(HAAM).Methods To construct the tissue engineered periosteum (n=60) with HAAM, the human fetal osteoblasts were used. The fetal osteoblasts were cultured for 2, 4, 6, 8, and10 days, and then their total RNA was extracted, which were reversely transcripted to cDNA. The realtime PCR analysis was used to reveal Cbfal and Osterix, and the cycle threshold (Ct) was also measured. The simplycultured osteoblasts were used as the control group (n=20).Results The expression of Cbfa1 was higher in the experimental group on the 2nd day when compared with that on the 4th, 6th, and 8th day(P＜0.05). The same result existed on the 10th day when compared with that on the 4th and 8th day. The expression of Osterix increased and was highest on the 8th day when compared with the other results(P＜0.05). Both of the 2 gene expressions were decreased in the control group when compared with those in the experimental group, but with no significant difference(P＞0.05). Conclusion Cbfa1 and Osterix can be normally expressed by the osteoblasts after their integration with HAAM. As a scaffold, HAAM can be used to keep the osteoblast phenotype and differentiation with an osteoconductive ability. Such a cell-scaffold complex may provide a basis for the osteogenesis.
