抄録
Purpose: Full thickness oral mucosal defects are common following resection of various oral mucosal lesions
such as oral cancerous or precancerous lesions. Our laboratory investigated cell sheet technology to overcome
the unmet medical needs. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of tissue-engineered gingival mesenchymal
cell sheets for treating palatal full thickness defects in rats.
Materials and Methods: Gingival mesenchymal cells were obtained from mandibular attached gingival tissues
of EGFP rats and cultured. Cells were cultured using thermo-responsive culture dishes to form cell sheets for
transplantation onto palatal full thickness defects (3mm in diameter) of SD rats. Six rats were divided into two
groups, a transplant group and a control group. Three animals were used in each group. After the cell sheet was
transplanted, macroscopic images of palatal wound were taken until complete wound closure. Wound area was
analyzed using Image J software.
Results: The cells exhibited colony forming potential and formed calcified nodules when they were cultured in
osteoinductive medium. Wound healing was accelerated when the cell sheet was transplanted at 3.3 ± 0.6 days
(mean ± SD) postoperation in the test group. In the control group, healing was accelerated at 4.7 ± 0.6 days
after the transplantation. The palatal full thickness defects were well-regenerated, and wound healing in the
transplant group was completed at day 6.6 ± 0.6. In contrast, wound healing in the control group was completed
at day 8.6 ± 1.2. It was statistically significant difference between two groups. Histological examination showed
similar wound healing patterns in the two groups. After using H.E. staining, dense hyperplasy of the connective
tissue is detected in the transplant group compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Gingival mesenchymal cell sheet can be served as a new reconstruction material for palatal full
thickness oral defects.
