Analysis of mineral apposition rates during alveolar bone regeneration over three weeks following transfer of BMP-2/7 gene via in vivo electroporation

• Main Authors: Mariko Kawai, Yohei Kataoka, Junya Sonobe, Hiromitsu Yamamoto, Hiroki Maruyama, Toshio Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Bessho, Kiyoshi Ohura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2018-08-01
• Series: European Journal of Histochemistry
• Subjects: BMP; gene transfer; in vivo electroporation; alveolar bone; histomorphometry
• Online Access: https://ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/2947

Alveolar bone is not spontaneously regenerated following trauma or periodontitis. We previously proposed an animal model for new alveolar bone regeneration therapy based on the non-viral BMP-2/7 gene expression vector and in vivo electroporation, which induced the formation of new alveolar bone over the course of a week. Here, we analysed alveolar bone during a period of three weeks following gene transfer to periodontal tissue. Non-viral plasmid vector pCAGGS-BMP-2/7 or pCAGGS control was injected into palatal periodontal tissue of the first molar of the rat maxilla and immediately electroporated with 32 pulses of 50 V for 50 msec. Over the following three weeks, rats were double bone-stained by calcein and tetracycline every three days and mineral apposition rates (MAR) were measured. Double bone-staining revealed that MAR of alveolar bone was as similar level three days before BMP-2/7 gene transfer as three days after gene transfer. However, from 3 to 6 days, 6 to 9 days, 9 to 12 days, 12 to 15 days, 15 to 18 days, and 18 to 20 days after, MARs were significantly higher than prior to gene transfer. Our proposed gene therapy for alveolar bone regeneration combining non-viral BMP-2/7 gene expression vector and in vivo electroporation could increase alveolar bone regeneration potential in the targeted area for up to three weeks.