IGF-I, TGF-beta, and BMP-4 are expressed during distraction osteogenesis of the pig mandible

The mechanisms that regulate bone formation during distraction osteogenesis (DO) are not completely understood. Our hypothesis is that local cytokines that stimulate osteoblast activity are potential regulators of this process. The purpose of this study was to determine gene expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) in distracted wounds. A semiburied, rigid distraction device was placed across an osteotomy at the right mandibular angle in 9 Yucatan minipigs. Distraction was begun immediately at a rate of 1 mm/day. The animals were sacrificed after 4 and 7 days of distraction, and after 7 days of distraction plus 4 days of neutral fixation. Excised wound tissues were processed for histologic and gene expression analyses. Competitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were developed and validated for porcine genes. Histologic analysis showed membranous ossification within the DO wound. Gene expression of IGF-I, TGF-beta and BMP-4 was detected during distraction and neutral fixation. These results show that gene expression analyses can be performed in a large animal model of mandibular DO. As the pig mandible closely resembles that of the human in morphology and physiology, this is an important step toward characterization of the early molecular events in the DO wound.