Influence of allograft bone on osteoprogenitor cell metabolism and mineralization: A review of In Vitro and In Vivo experimental models and clinical case reports

Background: This paper examines recently published studies using osteoprogenitor cells in combination with allograft bone to enhance bone formation. In vitro and in vivo models together with clinical cases were examined to determine the efficacy of cellular augmentation of allografts to enhance bone formation. Methods: To achieve this goal, searches were conducted using PubMed with the following field tags: osteoprogenitor cells and allograft bone. A total of 28 results were reviewed to identify appropriate studies, which addressed the proposed question. Exclusion criteria included studies that did not examine the use of mesenchymal stem cells or osteoprogenitor cells, or studies that did not use allograft bone or other osteoconductive substrates. Results: Outcomes from three types of studies: in vitro and in vivo models and clinical studies support the use of osteoprogenitor cell seeded bone allografts in the enhancement of bone formation and when examined, fusion. Conclusion: Osteoprogenitor cell seeded bone allografts aid in bone formation and can be used clinically to treat bone defects. Further research is needed to optimize addition of bone-specific growth factors for an ideal cellular allograft.