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Published on: March 24, 2019
rhBMP-2 modulation of gene expression in infected segmental bone defects
Katherine E Brick1, Xinqian Chen, Jamie Lohr
1Midwest Orthopaedic Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|November 20, 2008
Summary
Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) may enhance bone formation even during acute infection. rhBMP-2 application to rat femur defects showed increased bone gene expression, suggesting faster recovery for complex fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Regenerative Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are crucial for bone healing.
- Acute infection can impair BMPs' osteoinductive capacity.
- Understanding BMP response in infected bone defects is clinically relevant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of rhBMP-2 on bone formation gene expression in an infected rat femur segmental defect model.
- To assess the impact of Staphylococcus aureus infection on rhBMP-2-mediated bone healing.
Main Methods:
- rhBMP-2 was applied to segmental defects in 72 Sprague-Dawley rat femurs.
- Groups included rhBMP-2 plus bacteria, bacteria only, rhBMP-2 only, and carrier alone.
- Gene expression (collagens I/II, osteocalcin, BMPR-II) was quantified using real-time PCR at 1, 2, and 4 weeks.
Main Results:
- Infected defects without rhBMP-2 showed minimal expression of collagens I/II and osteocalcin.
- BMP receptor II expression was elevated in infected defects at 2 and 4 weeks compared to controls.
- rhBMP-2 significantly upregulated all four measured genes in infected defects.
Conclusions:
- rhBMP-2 demonstrates osteoinductive potential even in the presence of acute infection.
- rhBMP-2 may promote bone formation and potentially accelerate recovery in clinically relevant scenarios like compound fractures with bone loss and infection.
- rhBMP-2 could be beneficial in managing nonunion complications associated with infected fractures.
