Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an important neuropeptide expressed in the nerve fibers during bone repair. Here, we aimed to pinpoint the role of CGRP in the osteogenic differentiation property of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and the resultant repair of alveolar bone defect. The key factor related to the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs was retrieved from the GEO database. After extraction from hADSCs (hADSC-EVs) and identification, EVs were subjected to coculture with hPDLSCs, in which the expression patterns of CGRP and osteogenic differentiation marker proteins (ALP, RUNX2, and OCN), as well as ALP activity, were detected. A novel cell-free tissue-engineered bone (TEB) comprised of PLGA/pDA and hADSC-EVs was implanted into the rats with alveolar bone defects to evaluate the repair of alveolar bone defects. CGRP was enriched in hADSC-EVs. hADSCs delivered CGRP to hPDLSCs through EVs, thereby promoting the osteogenic differentiation potential of hPDLSCs. The PLGA/pDA-EV scaffold released EVs slowly, and its implantation into the rat alveolar bone defect area significantly induced bone defect repair, which was reversed by further knockdown of CGRP. In conclusion, our newly discovered cell-free system consisted of hADSC-EVs, and PLGA/pDA scaffold shows promising function in repairing alveolar bone defects.