title: Enhanced osteogenic activity of mesenchymal stem cells and co-modified BMP-2 and bFGF genes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We co-modified rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) genes, and then evaluated their osteogenic activity in vitro and evaluated ectopic bone formation in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nude mice (male, 20±2 g) were randomly divided into 2 groups: a control group (n=30) and a transfection group (n=30). In the control group, rMSCs+scaffold was implanted into the intramuscular pocket in the left femur, and BMP-2 gene modified rMSCs+scaffold was implanted into the intramuscular pocket in the right femur. In the transfection group, bFGF gene modified rMSCs+scaffold was implanted into the left femur, and BMP-2+bFGF gene modified rMSCs+scaffold was implanted into the right femur. Under anesthesia, an 8-mm incision was made over the lateral aspect of each femur and cell-scaffold composite was implanted into an intramuscular pocket created by blunt dissection. Samples taken at 3 months were stained. Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. The relative capillary density was estimated by counting the capillary number and measuring the length of the capillaries in the defined area after image digitization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison with the BMP-2 group and bFGF group, the proliferation of the BMP-2+bFGF group was obviously enhanced (p<0.01). The modification could promote alkaline phosphatase activity in endochylema of MSCs in BMP-2+bFGF group. Osteocalcin secretion had obviously improved in the BMP-2+bFGF group compared with the BMP-2 group and the bFGF group (p<0.01). Histologic analysis of the stages of bone formation showed a more obvious scaffold substitution progress in the BMP-2+bFGF group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-modification of rMSCs with BMP-2 and bFGF genes can promote the in vitro osteogenic activity of rMSCs and in vivo ectopic bone formation.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Gele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: School of West China Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University; Lab. of Cardiovascular Disease, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of West China Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University; Lab. of Cardiovascular Disease, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: XiaoJing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of West China Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University; Lab. of Cardiovascular Disease, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005269:Femur; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2