Figure 1.

Infusion of GMSCs Alleviates Osteoporosis by Diminishing Osteoclast Formation and Promoting Bone Formation in OVX Mice

OVX mice were treated with gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) or control cells prepuce-derived fibroblasts (PDFs) or PBS (OVX) on 14 days after surgery, and mice were sacrificed on 56 days after injection. (A) Study design of the experiment. Femur, tibiae, and blood were sampled at sacrifice. (B) Representative micro-CT images illustrating trabecular bone mass of the distal metaphysis of femur. Region of interest (ROI) was defined 1–2 mm away from epiphyses; n = 8. (C) Corresponding parameters showing the treatment of osteoporosis by GMSC therapy. BV/TV, bone volume/tissue volume; BS/BV, bone surface area/bone volume; Tb.Th, trabecular thickness; Tb.Nb, trabecular number; Tb.Sp, trabecular spacing; Tb.PF, trabecular pattern factor; n = 8. (D) Representative TRAP-stained femur tissue sections from the different groups’ mice. The ratio of TRAP-positive cells in the field was counted in each group; n = 8. (E) Representative calcein-labeling images exhibiting bone formation rates. Mice received double injection of 10 mg/kg calcein at 14 and 2 days before sacrifice. Corresponding parameters showing osteoid mineralization function. MAR, mineral apposition rate; n = 4. (F) The levels of bone-remodeling markers secretion from the sham, model, PDF, and GMSC treatment groups of OVX mice; n = 5. The results represent three independent experiments (mean ± SEM), ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 by Mann-Whitney tests or t test or ANOVA test.