METHODS OF INDUCING THE EXPRESSION OF BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEINS (BMPs) AND TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-β PROTEINS (TGF-βs) IN CELLS

摘要

A method of inducing the expression of one or more bone morphogenetic proteins and/or transforming growth factor-β proteins in a cell is described. The method includes transfecting a cell with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. The one or more bone morphogenetic proteins can be BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7 or combinations thereof. The transforming growth factor-β protein can be transforming growth factor- β1 protein (TGF- β1). Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. The method can be used to induce bone formation in osseous cells or to stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycyan and/or collagen (e.g., intervertebral disc cells).