Recombinant adenovirus activity of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 in animal models

AIM:To construct the recombinant adenovirus of human bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2)(AdBMP2) with genetic engineering,and detect the activity when it is expressed in vivo so as to provide conditions for further study on the development of gene therapy. METHODS:The experiment was completed in Laboratory for Orthopaedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2000 to June 2002.By using PCR technique,the cDNA coding for the full fragment of BMP2 was amplified.After the recombinant adenovirus was recombined and constructed homologously in vitro,30 SD rats were randomly and equally divided into treatment group and control group.50 uL purified recombinant adenovirus were injected into the suffered lacuna in thigh muscle of the rats,then the histological changes of animal models were measured by histological staining and X ray.RESULTS:After 6 weeks,the formation of bone induction was found obviously in the treatment group.At 2 weeks,the level of alkaline phosphatase activity in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group,and the remarkable activity of bone induction was found in the treatment group.CONCLUSION:The recombinant AdBMP2 can be used in the expression of target genes and it is with bioactivity.Our study is an attempt in the gene therapy for bone defect.The successful construction of recombinant adenovirus of human BMP2 provides a basis for the study on gene therapy for orthopaedic diseases in China.