Effect of ErhBMP-2-loaded β-tricalcium phosphate on ulna defects in the osteoporosis rabbit model

• Published in: Bone Reports Vol. 14; p. 100739
• Main Authors: Huang, Tse-Yin, Wu, Chang-Chin, Weng, Pei-Wei, Chen, Jian-Ming, Yeh, Wen-Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: ErhBMP-2; Osteoporosis rabbit model; Tricalcium phosphate; Ulna defect; Osteoporosis rabbit model; Tricalcium phosphate; BV; BMD; Ulna defect; BMC; ErhBMP-2; ROI; β-TCP; BMC, bone mineral content; ErhBMP-2, Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenesis protein-2; ROI, region of interest; BMD, bone mineral density; BV, bone volume; β-TCP, β-tricalcium phosphate
• ISSN: 2352-1872; 2352-1872
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bonr.2020.100739

Autografts, the gold standard treatment for large bone defects, present complications, especially in conditions with reduced bone-repair capacity, such as osteoporosis. Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenesis protein-2 (ErhBMP-2), was used in this study to improve the osteoinductivity of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). This study evaluated the bone-repair capacity of ErhBMP-2-loaded β-TCP on osteoporosis rabbit model, relative to the sole use of autograft and β-TCP treatments. The osteoporosis rabbit model was induced through ovariectomy and glucocorticoid dosing; 2-cm segmental ulnar defects were created, which were treated with either autograft, β-TCP alone, or ErhBMP-2-loaded β-TCP or left untreated. The quality of newly formed ulnae was evaluated 8 weeks after ulnar surgery through micro-CT, biomechanical, histological, and histomorphometric assessments. The osteoporosis rabbit model was developed and maintained till the end of the study. The maximal load and stiffness in the ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP group were significantly higher than those in the autograft group, whereas the TCP-alone group performed similarly as did the untreated group in the force loading and stiffness tests. According to the micro-CT evaluation, the ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP group had significantly higher bone volume relative to the autograft and TCP-alone groups. Histological assessments revealed better defect bridging and marrow formation in the ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP group relative to the TCP-alone group. Mineral apposition rates were significantly higher in the ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP and autograft groups than in the TCP-alone and untreated groups. Relative to autografts, ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP, as an alternative grafting material, provides better or comparable healing on critical-sized long bone defects in the osteoporosis rabbit model. [Display omitted] •Erh-BMP-2 promoted the bone healing ability of β-TCP in osteoporosis animal model.•New bone generated by Erh-BMP-2-loaded β-TCP was stiffer than that generated by autograft.•ErhBMP-2-loaded TCP potentially being an alternative grafting material relative to autograft.