Ectopic bone formation of human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfected goat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in nude mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the osteogenic potential of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 gene transfected goat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).


METHODS
Goat bone marrow-derived MSCs were transfected by Adv-human bone morphogenetic protein (hBMP)-2 gene (Group 1), Adv-beta gal transfected MSCs (Group 2) and uninfected MSCs (Group 3). Western blot analysis, alkaline phosphatase staining, Von Kossa staining and transmission electron microscopy were adopted to determine the phenotype of MSCs. Then the cells were injected into thigh muscles of the nude mice. Radiographical and histological evaluations were performed at different intervals.


RESULTS
Only Adv-hBMP-2 transfected MSCs produced hBMP-2. These cells were positive for alkaline phosphatase staining at the 12th day and were positive for Von Kossa staining at the 16th day after gene transfer. Electron microscopic observation showed that there were more rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes in Adv-hBMP-2 transfected MSCs compared to MSCs of other two groups. At the 3rd and 6th weeks after cell injection, ectopic bones were observed in muscles of nude mice of Group 1. Only fibrous tissue or a little bone was found in other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
BMP-2 gene transfected MSCs can differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro and induce bone formation in vivo.
Tang
Ting-ting
TT
Bone and Joint Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200011, China. tingtingtang@hotmail.com
Xu
Xiao-liang
XL
Dai
Ke-rong
KR
Yu
Chao-feng
CF
Yue
Bing
B
Lou
Jue-ren
JR
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
C525718:BMP2 protein, human; C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta