Semaphorin3A promotes osseointegration of titanium implants in osteoporotic rabbits

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, we intend to assess the function of Sema3A in osteointegration of titanium implants both in vivo and in vitro.

Material and methods: Briefly, Sema3A was transfected in HBMSCs cells to detect its effect on osteogenesis. Subsequently, an in vivo rabbit model was established. Eighteen female rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups (n=6), and rabbits in the two treatment groups (OVX groups) were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy, while those in the control group were treated with sham operation. Twelve weeks later, we first examined expression levels of Sema3A in rabbits of the three groups. Titanium implants were implanted in rabbit proximal tibia. Specifically, rabbits in sham group were implanted with Matrigel, while the remaining in the OVX experimental group (OVX+Sema3A group) and OVX group were implanted with Matrigel containing Sema3A adeno-associated virus or empty vector, respectively.

Results: Histomorphometry results uncovered that rabbits in the OVX+Sema3A group had a significantly higher BIC compared with those of the OVX group on the 12th week of post-implantation. And compared with the OVX group, the maximum push-out force increased by 89.4%, and the stiffness increased by 39.4%, the toughness increased by 63.8% in the OVX+Sema3A group at 12 weeks.

Conclusion: Sema3A has a positive effect on promoting early osseointegration of titanium implants in osteoporotic rabbits.

Clinical relevance: Our research found that Sema3A can improve the osteogenic ability of bone marrow stem cells and promotes osseointegration during osteoporosis.

Keywords: Bone-implant contact ratio; Implant osseointegration; NF-kappa B; Osteoporosis; Semaphorin3A.