Cell differentiation under the influence of rh-BMP-2

Bioactive bone growth factors will likely play an important role in the reg eneration of bone. BMP-2 is known to promote osteoblastic cell differentiat ion and osteogenesis. Whether the BMPs act on human osteoblastic cells by i ncreasing immature cell growth and/or differentiation is unknown. The goal of this study was to analyse possible effects of rhBMP-2 on cell differenti ation using a human bone marrow cell culture. rhBMP-2 was added to the cult ure medium once. Fourteen days after addition of rhBMP-2 the cells were inc ubated with monoclonal antibodies. The cells were counted and analysed in a fluorescence-activating cell sorter (FACS), Compared to the controls there was an increasing effect on granulocytes, B cells and stem cells. The T-ce lls and monocytes show no increase or decrease after rhBMP-2 treatment. (C) 2001 Academic Press.