Role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in repairing of bone defects

TGF-beta is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates many aspects of cellular function, including periosteal mesenchymal cell proliferation, differentiation. This experiment is to study its effects on bone defect repair. A rabbit radial bone defect model was used to evaluate the effect of TGF-beta, which was extracted and purified from bovine blood platelets, on the healing of a large segmental osteoperiosteal defect. A 1.5-centimeter segmental defect was created in the mid-upper part of the radial shaft of adult rabbits. The defect was filled with implant containing TGF-beta that consisted of carrier and bovine TGF-beta. Limbs served as controls received carrier alone. The defects were examined radiographically and histologically at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after implantation. The results showed that in TGF-beta implant group, the defect areas at 12 weeks post operation were bridged by uniform new bone and the cut ends of cortex could not be seen; while in control group, the defects remained clear. Only a small amount of new bone formed as a cap on the cut bone ends. In the experimental group, new lamellar and woven bone formed in continuity with the cut ends of the cortex. An early medullar canal appears to be forming and contained normal-appearancing marrow elements; while the control group displayed entirely fibrous tissue within the defect site. Remnants of the cancellous bone carrier were observed in the control specimen. These data demonstrate that exogenous TGF-beta initiate osteogenesis and stimulate the bone defects repair in animal model.