Biological reactions of dental pulp stem cells cultured in presence of new xenograft bone substitutes from different sources: An in vitro study

AIMS: This study aimed to compare the biological reactions of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) cultured on new xenograft bone substitutes derived from camel and bovine bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DPSCs were cultured and placed on different xenograft materials including Bone Plus (bovine), Camel Bone, and demineralized bovine bone matrix. The viability and proliferation of cells were evaluated by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay after 24, 48, and 72 h. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test and Alizarin red staining were performed at 7 and 21 days to assess the osteoblastic differentiation of cells. Osteocalcin (OCN) gene expression was evaluated qualitatively at 3-, 7- and 14-days using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Semi-quantitative PCR was also performed using ImageJ software. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's honestly significant difference test. RESULTS: The cell proliferation rate was significantly different among the three xenograft bone substitutes at 24-, 48- and 72 h (P < 0.05). The ALP activity of DPSCs in all three xenograft bone substitute groups was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Alizarin red staining showed no significant difference in the formation of calcified nodules among the groups. Qualitative and semi-quantitative PCR displayed that the expression of OCN gene in the Camel Bone and Bone Plus groups was higher than that in the demineralized bovine bone matrix group. CONCLUSIONS: The Camel Bone xenograft caused a high proliferation rate and optimal osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs qualitatively and semi-quantitatively in vitro. Further studies are required on this xenograft bone substitute.