The Role of Wnt Signaling and Its Contribution to Craniofacial Bone Healing: an Osteoporotic Model in Rats

The osteoporotic/osteopenic change of bone quality of patients is a clinically important issue because of their high incidence of fracture and the delayed of bone healing and the decline of Wnt signaling. Bone graft which is used to accelerate the healing is one of common procedures for facial bone defects healing. The main purpose of this study is to explore the role of Wnt signaling of autologous bone graft and its contribution to the healing of osteoporotic alveolar bone in a rat model. The first objective of this study is to establish a rat osteoporosis model after bilateral ovariectomy together with first molar tooth extraction. The alveolar bone defect by osteotomy will be analyzed at certain time points using microscopic computer tomography and histological tissue analysis to evaluate the effect on bone healing after ovariectomy. Then the autologous bone grafts from iliac bone would be harvested three months after the ovariectomy. Subrenal capsule implantation will be performed to observe the gene expression of Wnt signaling and the ability of osteogenesis of osteoporotic bone graft by histological and molecular biology analysis. The contribution of autologous bone graft to the repair of facial bone defects will also be discussed. Three months after the ovariectomy, bilateral alveolar bone defects (1.5mm) will be made in the tooth extraction site and edentulous ridge. Then, the osteoporotic bone grafts will be treated with/without L-WNT3A protein. The healing potential of these bone grafts will be compared in different alveolar sites. The role of autologous bone graft and L-WNT3A protein in repair of alveolar bone defects and its contribution to bone healing will also be discusse. In order to decrease donor site morbidity of bone graft, finally, we harvest the bone marrow from the osteoporotic rats and seed onto the injectable cryogels with/without L-WNT3A protein treatment to repair the alveolar bone defect. Samples will be obtained at certain timepoints for further analysis of osteogenesis. Our final goal is to translate these basic science findings into actual clinical applications.

Project ID:PC10708-1063
External Project ID:MOST107-2314-B182-035