Establishment of novel animal model of ectopic bone formation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861208
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Kyushu Dental College (2015); Saitama Medical University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Osawa Kenji 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 助教 (70638238)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 骨形成 / 骨形成因子(BMP) / 超音波遺伝子導入 / 骨誘導

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) induce heterotypic bone formation in soft tissues, such as skeletal muscle, and induce osteoblastic differentiation of myoblasts in vitro. We attempted to establish an in vivo experimental model for heterotypic bone formation using ultrasound-mediated gene transfer (sonoporation). A mixture of BMP-encoding plasmidvector and a micro bubble echo-contrast agent was injected to the gastrocnemius muscle of mice, and ultrasound irradiation was performed at the injection site. Radiopacity was observed in the BMP transfection site and heterotypic endochondral ossification was observed in the muscle tissue, indicating that local expression of BMPcould induce the heterotypic ossification.Moreover, bone formation could enhance by cardiotoxin (CTX) injection before sonoporation. This model may be a useful tool to clarify mechanisms of BMP-induced bone formation in vivo.

Free Research Field

口腔内科学