Localized transplantation of periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stromal cell sheets promotes mandibular wound healing in zoledronate-treated beagle dogs

Abstract Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is associated with impaired wound healing, and approaches that support tissue repair warrant investigation. We evaluated the effects of localized periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (PDL-MSC) sheet transplantation on mandibular wound healing in zoledronate-treated beagle dogs. Following zoledronate administration, mandibular bone injuries were surgically created. Allogeneic canine PDL-MSC sheets combined with polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets were applied to wounds on one side of the mandible, while contralateral wounds received PGA sheets alone. Mucosal healing and histological findings were assessed two weeks later. The PDL-MSC sheet-treated sites showed better mucosal healing and smaller histological areas of inflammatory mucosa and sequestrated bone than the PGA-only control sites. These findings suggest that localized PDL-MSC sheet transplantation may improve short-term healing of surgically created mandibular wounds under zoledronate exposure. This study did not evaluate treatment of established MRONJ. Further studies are needed to determine whether the observed effects extend to persistent jaw lesions and are relevant to MRONJ.