[Comparison between gene therapy and gradual release carrier for bone morphogenetic protein-2 in repairing bone...

To compare the effects between gene therapy and gradual release carrier for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in repairing bone defects, bone defects for 15 mm were created.on the bilateral radius in rabbits and treated with four kinds of implantations, ie, composite of transgeneic MSCs and PLA/PCL (Group A), composite of MSCs and gradual release carrier for BMP-2 (Group B), composite of MSCs and PLA/PCL (Group C), and PLA/PCL alone (Group D). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of the operations, X-ray, histological examination, biomechanics analysis, and bone density measurement were conducted. Results showed that both osteoblasts and mesenchymal cells displayed strongly positive expression of BMP-2 in Group A after 4 weeks of the operation, the speed and quality of bone formation in Group A were much better than those in Group B. After 12 weeks of the operations, bone defects were completely repaired in Group A. BMP-2 gene therapy is really a good method to repair segmental bone defects.