PRODUCTION OF FUNCTIONAL HUMAN BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-2 USING A BACULOVIRUS SF-9 INSECT-CELL SYSTEM/

A clone of a human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (hBMP-2) cDNA was obta ined from a cDNA library established from human dental pulp cells. Aft er subcloning hBMP-2 cDNA into Autographa californica nuclear polyhedr osis virus, the recombinant baculovirus was transfected to Sf-9 cells. Immune-reactive recombinant hBMP-2 (rhBMP-2) was detected by a polycl onal antibody against Xenopus BMP-2 in the transfected insect cells bu t not in the culture media. Three days after treatment with the lysate of the transfected Sf-9 cells, increase in alkaline phosphatase activ ity of a murine stromal cell line, ST2, was detected. Subcutaneous imp lantation of rhBMP-2 produced in the insect cells induced formation of cartilage, bone and bone marrow in the rats. The present data indicat ed that the rhBMP-2 preparation produced in the insect Sf-9 cells had a comparable activity to that produced in mammalian cells.