Bone induction by Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 compared with Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2

Most recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) is currently obta ined from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, If rhBMP with more activity co uld be derived from Escherichia coli (E. coli), a large quantity of rhBMP c ould be produced at low cost. The bone-inducing ability of an E. coli-deriv ed rhBMP-2 (ErhBMP-2) variant with an N-terminal sequence was examined and compared with CHO cell-derived rhBMP-2 (CrhBMP-2). Two, 10, or 50 mug of Er hBMP-2 or CrhBMP-2 was mixed with 3 mg of atelopeptide type I collagen as t he carrier, and specimens were implanted into the calf muscle pouches of Wi star rats (n = 5 in each group), Three weeks later, new bone had formed in all the ErhBMP-2-implanted and CrhBMP-2-implanted muscles, Radiographic and histological examinations showed that the bone induced by ErhBMP-2 had a l arge hollow bone matrix with more fatty marrow than the bone induced by Crh BMP-2. Quantitative analysis indicated that the activity of ErhBMP-2 was si milar to that of CrhBMP-2, so ErhBMP-2 may be useful for inducing bone form ation. (C) 2000 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.