The decreased bone density and increased marrow adiposity that occur with aging may influence the outcome of dental implants. Strontium (Sr), an anabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis, has an inhibitory effect on adipogenesis but favors osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, little is known about the effects and mechanisms of local Sr release on adipogenesis during bone formation in aged bone. In this study, a potential dental implant material, Sr-doped titanium, was developed via a sandblasted, large-grit, and acid-etched (SLA) method combined with a hydrothermal process. The effects of Sr-SLA on initial adhesion, proliferation, intracellular redox state, and adipogenic differentiation of senescent BMSCs were investigated. The in vitro results showed that Sr-SLA promoted spreading of senescent BMSCs via upregulation of the gene and protein expression of integrin β1. In addition, it was revealed that Sr-SLA could reduce intracellular oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species and oxygen radicals and increasing the content of glutathione peroxidase. More important, Sr-SLA suppressed lipid droplet production and adipokines expression via downregulation of transcription peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, thus inhibiting adipogenesis. Finally, the Sr-SLA implants were implanted in tibiae of aged (18-mo-old) Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 and 8 wk. Histomorphometric analysis demonstrated that Sr-SLA implants significantly enhanced osseointegration, and the inhibition effect on marrow adipose tissue formation was moderate. All these results suggest that due to the multiple functions produced by Sr, antiadipogenesis capability and rapid osseointegration were enhanced by the Sr-SLA coatings, which have potential application in dental implantation in the aged population.
Keywords: biocompatibility; bone regeneration; cell differentiation; dental implant; oxidative stress; stem cells.