Effect of bone morphogenetic protein-12 gene transfer on mesenchymal progenitor cells

Recombinant adenovirus mediated human bone morphogenetic protein-12 gene tr ansfer induced tendon and cartilagelike tissue formation in vivo. The recom binant adenovirus with the human bone morphogenetic protein-12 gene was con structed,and mature human bone morphogenetic protein-12 expression mediated by adenovirus gene transfer was detected by specific antibody. Unlike bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfer, bone morphogenetic protein-12 gene transferred mesenchymal progenitor cell line C3H 10T1/2 showed no change of alkaline phosphatase activity, which is the mark of cell differentiation i nto osteoblastic phenotype, Injection of bone morphogenetic protein-12 gene transferred C3H 10T1/2 cells into nude mice thigh muscles induced tendon a nd cartilagelike tissue formation, The results indicate bone morphogenetic protein-12 has different effects on mesenchymal progenitor cell differentia tion, and it may influence the cell differentiation into a nonosteoblast li neage.