Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2006 December; 27 (12): 1608-1615; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2006.00449.x

Aim: Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is one of the main local contributing factors in callus formation in the early phase of fracture healing. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSC) are multipotent cells. The present study was conducted to investigate the osteogenic potential of ADSC when exposed to adenovirus containing BMP4 cDNA (Ad-BMP4).

Methods: ADSC were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rats. After exposure to Ad-BMP4, ADSC were assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) assay, RT-PCR and von Kossa staining. BMP4 expression was assessed by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. ADSC transduced with Ad-BMP4 were directly injected into the hind limb muscles of athymic mice. ADSC Ad-EGFP(enhanced green fluorescence protein) served as controls. All animals were examined by X-ray film and histological analysis.

Results: The expression of BMP4 was confirmed at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of the osteoblastic gene, ALP activity and von Kossa staining confirmed that ADSC transduced with Ad-BMP4 underwent rapid and marked osteoblast differentiation, whereas ADSC transduced with Ad-EGFP and cells left alone displayed no osteogenic differentiation. X-ray and histological examination confirmed new bone formation in athymic mice transplanted with ADSC transduced with Ad-BMP4.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrated successful osteogenic differentiation of ADSC transduced with Ad-BMP4 in vitro and in vivo. ADSC may bean ideal source of mesenchyme lineage stem cells for gene therapy and tissue engineering.

Keywords: adipose-derived stromal cells; BMP4; gene therapy; bone formation