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Juan M Taboas

Publications and source records attributed to Juan M Taboas.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Earliest mineral and matrix changes in force-induced musculoskeletal disease as revealed by Raman microspectroscopic imaging.

UNLABELLED: Craniosynostosis, premature fusion of the skull bones at the sutures, is the second most common human birth defect in the skull. Raman microspectroscopy was used to examine the composition, relative amounts, and locations of the mineral and matrix produced in mouse skulls undergoing force-induced craniosynostosis. Raman imaging revealed decreased relative mineral content in skulls undergoing craniosynostosis compared with unloaded specimens. INTRODUCTION: Raman microspectroscopy, a nondestructive vibrational spectroscopic technique, was used to examine the composition, relative amounts, and locations of the mineral and matrix produced in mouse skulls undergoing force-induced craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis, premature fusion of the skull bones at the sutures, is the second most common birth defect in the face and skull. The calvaria, or flat bones that comprise the top of the skull, are most often affected, and craniosynostosis is a feature of over 100 human syndromes and conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Raman images of the suture, the tips immediately adjacent to the suture (osteogenic fronts), and mature parietal bones of loaded and unloaded calvaria were acquired. Images were acquired at 2.6 x 2.6 microm spatial resolution and ranged in a field of view from 180 x 210 microm to 180 x 325 microm. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This study found that osteogenic fronts subjected to uniaxial compression had decreased relative mineral content compared with unloaded osteogenic fronts, presumably because of new and incomplete mineral deposition. Increased matrix production in osteogenic fronts undergoing craniosynostosis was observed. Understanding how force affects the composition, relative amounts, and location of the mineral and matrix provides insight into musculoskeletal disease in general and craniosynostosis in particular. This is the first report in which Raman microspectroscopy was used to study musculoskeletal disease. These data show how Raman microspectroscopy can be used to study subtle changes that occur in disease.

Animals↗

Skeletal homeostasis in tissue-engineered bone.

Tissue-engineering strategies to stimulate bone regeneration may offer an alternative approach to conventional orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgical therapies. Over the last decade, significant advances have been accomplished in developing biomimetic matrices, growth factors, cell transplantation and gene delivery therapeutics to support new bone growth. However, it is not known if tissue-engineered bone recapitulates the biology of normal skeletal tissue in response to physiologic cues. Here, we report that bone formed by the differentiation of transplanted murine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) responds to a systemically delivered calciotropic hormone. Ectopic ossicles in mice exposed to catabolic doses of parathyroid hormone (PTH) had increased numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclasts as compared to control mice. In contrast, treatment with anabolic doses of PTH promoted a marked increase in trabecular bone mass as analyzed by microcomputed tomography and histomorphometry. Our findings demonstrate that bone formed from transplanted BMSCs is responsive to normal physiologic signals, and can be augmented by the addition of a systemic anabolic agent. Because multiple and distinct ossicles can be generated in a single animal, this versatile system may be used to: (a) elucidate cellular/molecular mechanisms in bone regeneration; (b) study cell-to-cell interactions in the bone marrow microenvironment in health and disease; and (c) evaluate the efficacy of osteotropic agents that modulate bone turnover in vivo.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Engineered osteochondral grafts using biphasic composite solid free-form fabricated scaffolds.

Tissue engineering has provided an alternative to traditional strategies to repair cartilage damaged by injury or degenerative disease. A successful strategy to engineer osteochondral tissue will mimic the natural contour of the articulating surface, achieve native mechanical properties and functional load-bearing ability, and lead to integration with host cartilage and underlying subchondral bone. Image-based design (IBD) and solid free-form (SFF) fabrication can be used to generate scaffolds that are load bearing and match articular geometry. The objective of this study was to utilize materials and biological factors in an integrated approach to regenerate a multitissue interface. Biphasic composite scaffolds manufactured by IBD and SFF fabrication were used to simultaneously generate bone and cartilage in discrete regions and provide for the development of a stable interface between cartilage and subchondral bone. Poly-L-lactic acid/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds were differentially seeded with fibroblasts transduced with an adenovirus expressing bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) in the ceramic phase and fully differentiated chondrocytes in the polymeric phase. After subcutaneous implantation into mice, the biphasic scaffolds promoted the simultaneous growth of bone, cartilage, and a mineralized interface tissue. Within the ceramic phase, the pockets of tissue generated included blood vessels, marrow stroma, and adipose tissue. This combination of IBD and SFF-fabricated biphasic scaffolds with gene and cell therapy is a promising approach to regenerate osteochondral defects.

Animals↗