Combination of bone tissue engineering and BMP-2 gene transfection promotes bone healing in osteoporotic rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to develop a feasible approach to promote bone healing in osteoporotic rats using autogenous bone tissue-engineering and gene transfection of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP-2).


METHODS
Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from the left tibia of osteoporotic rats were transfected with the hBMP-2 gene in vitro which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and Western blotting. Autogenous transfected or untransfected BMSCs were seeded on macroporous coral hydroxyapatite (CHA) scaffolds. Each cell-scaffold construct was implanted into a defect site which was created in the ramus of the mandible of osteoporotic rats. Four or eight weeks after implantation in situ hybridization was performed in BMSCs transfected with hBMP-2, X-ray examinations, histological and histomorphological analyses were used to evaluate the effect of tissue-engineered bone on osseous defect repair.


RESULTS
Newly formed bone was observed at the margin of the defect 4 weeks after implantation with BMSCs transfected with BMP-2. Mature bone was observed 8 weeks after treatment. In the control group there was considerably less new bone and some adipose tissue was observed at the defect margins 8 weeks after implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Autogenous cells transfected with hBMP-2 promote bone formation in osteoporotic rats. BMSC-mediated BMP-2 gene therapy used in conjunction with bone tissue engineering may be used to successfully treat bone defects in osteoporotic rats. This method provides a powerful tool for bone regeneration and other tissue engineering.
Tang
Youchao
Y
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Huizhou Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong 516001, PR China.
Tang
Wei
W
Lin
Yunfeng
Y
Long
Jie
J
Wang
Hang
H
Liu
Lei
L
Tian
Weidong
W
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017886:Durapatite; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
C525718:BMP2 protein, human; C525720:Bmp2 protein, rat; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017886:Durapatite; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase