Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-84). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 137 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-137). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-184).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Daniel Yang. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-97). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-139).

Thesis (M.S.)--San Jose State University, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references. ProQuest ; Subscription required for access to full text. Also available via the World Wide Web ;

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) is a growth factor needed to initiate fracture repair and is involved in the differentiation of progenitor cells to the osteochondral lineage. Osteogenesis and angiogenesis are coupled processes, however the mechanism by which these processes are coupled and the role that BMP2 plays in coupling these processes is not well understood. In distraction osteogenesis, a bone regeneration model mediated by mechanical distraction of an osteotomy, BMP2 expression was primarily associated with blood vessels. Therefore, transgenic mice were used to conditionally delete BMP2 expression (BMP2-cKO) in smooth muscle cells during distraction osteogenesis to identify the role of BMP2 in osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Vessel formation was characterized by vascular perfusion of animals with a barium-gelatin solution, which was used as a radiographic contrast agent that allowed vessel formation to be quantified by micro-computer assisted tomography (µCT). Using the same transgenic mice to label those cells in which BMP2 had been deleted, histological analysis was performed to confirm the targeting specificity of the BMP2-cKO. µCT analysis showed less bone formation occurred in the BMP2-cKO animals compared to controls. The µCT analysis further showed vessel volume and thickness were decreased in BMP2-cKO animals at both day 17 and 31, suggesting that there is a relationship between BMP2 and vessel size. Vessel number was greater in controls than the BMP2-cKO animals at day 17, however the BMP2-cKO animals had a larger vessel number than the number by day 31. Histological analysis confirmed knockout of BMP2 expression in smooth muscle cells, as well as in skeletal muscle and chondrocytes. These results suggest the importance of BMP2, not only in bone formation, but also in vessel morphogenesis.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-05-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:41:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 luvizuto_er_dr_araca.pdf: 1092204 bytes, checksum: 1e6344b6cf18e7d173b8b90d3efcb6bc (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A neoformação óssea em defeitos críticos em calvária de ratos depende fortemente das propriedades osteocondutoras dos enxertos e biomateriais. Ainda é controverso se os biomateriais podem substituir os enxertos de osso autógeno e se a suplementação dos biomateriais com Proteínas Ósseas Morfogenéticas (BMPs) é necessária para melhorar a formação óssea. Examinamos defeitos críticos em calvária de ratos (5 mm de diâmetro) tratados com β-tricálcio fosfato (TCP; Cerasorb ® M), gel de ácido polilático e poliglicólico (PLA/PGA; Fisiograft®) e cimento de fosfato de cálcio (CPC; Norian® CRS®), isoladamente ou na presença de 5μg de BMP-2 após 45 dias. Defeitos tratados com enxerto de osso autógeno particulado e defeitos não tratados serviram como controle. A formação óssea foi avaliada com base na análise de μCT, análise histomorfométrica e análise de fluorescência. Nós relatamos que o TCP apoia a formação óssea de forma mais eficiente do que o enxerto de osso autógeno particulado. A formação óssea na presença de TCP sozinho atingiu um nível máximo de neoformação óssea, enquanto que a suplementação de BMP-2 falhou em melhorar a neoformação óssea. Em contrapartida, não houve diferença significativa na formação óssea quando o PLA / PGA e o CPC foram comparados ao enxerto autógeno. Além disso, a presença de BMP-2 não alterou substancialmente as propriedades osteocondutoras de PLA/PGA ou de CPC. Conclui-se que as propriedades osteocondutoras do TCP são superiores aos dos enxertos autógenos e que o TCP não exige suplementação de BMP-2. Nossos resultados também mostram que a diminuição da capacidade osteocondutora do PLA/PGA e do CPC não podem ser superadas pela suplementação de BMP-2 em defeitos de calvária de ratos / Bone formation in critical-sized calvaria defects is strongly dependent on the osteoconductive properties of grafts. It remains a matter of controversy whether biomaterials can replace autografts and whether the supplementation of biomaterials with Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) is necessary to enhance bone formation. We examined rat calvaria critical-sized defects (5mm diameter) treated with β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP; Cerasorb® M), polylactic and polyglycolic acid gel (PLA/PGA; Fisiograft®) and calcium phosphate cement (CPC; Norian® CRS®), either alone or in the presence of 5μg of BMP-2 after 45 days. Autografts and untreated defects served as controls. Bone formation was evaluated based on μCT analysis, histomorphometric analysis and fluorescence analysis. We report that TCP supported bone formation more efficiently than did autografts. Bone formation in the presence of TCP alone reached a maximal level, as BMP-2 supplementation failed to enhance bone formation. By contrast, no significant difference in bone formation was observed when PLA/PGA and CPC were compared to autografts. Moreover, the presence of BMP-2 did not substantially change the osteoconductive properties of PLA/PGA or CPC. We conclude that the osteoconductive properties of TCP are superior to those of autografts and that TCP does not require BMP-2 supplementation. Our findings also show that the decreased osteoconductive properties of PLA/PGA and CPC cannot be overcome by BMP-2 supplementation in rat calvaria defects

Emerging evidence indicates that the dysregulation of protein ubiquitination plays a crucial role in aging-associated diseases. Smad-dependent canonical BMP signaling pathway is indispensable for osteoblastic bone formation, which could be disrupted by the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of Smad1/5, the key molecules for BMP signaling transduction. However, whether the dysregulation of Smad1/5 ubiquitination and disrupted BMP signaling pathway are responsible for the age-related bone formation reduction is still underexplored. Casein kinase-2 interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1), also known as Pleckstrin homology domain-containing family O member 1 (PLEKHO1), is a previously identified ubiquitination-related molecule that could specifically target the linker region between the WW domains of Smurf1 to promote the ubiquitination of Smad1/5. Here, we found an age-related increase in the expression of CKIP-1 in bone specimens from either fractured patients or aging rodents, which was associated with the age-related reduction in Smad-dependent BMP signaling and bone formation. By genetic approach, we demonstrated that loss of Ckip-1 in osteoblasts could promote the Smad-dependent BMP signaling and alleviated the age-related bone formation reduction. In addition, osteoblast-specific Smad1 overexpression had beneficial effect on bone formation during aging, which could be counteracted after overexpressing Ckip-1 within osteoblasts. By pharmacological approach, we showed that osteoblast-targeted CKIP-1 siRNA treatment could enhance Smad-dependent BMP signaling and promote bone formation in aging rodents. Taken together, it suggests that the increased CKIP-1 could suppress Smad-dependent BMP signaling to inhibit bone formation during aging, indicating the translational potential of targeting CKIP-1 in osteoblast as a novel bone anabolic strategy for reversing established osteoporosis during aging.

Abstract Reindeer antler was studied for its possible use as a bone implant material. A molecular biological study showed that antler contains a growth factor promoting bone formation. Ectopic bone formation assay showed that antler is not an equally effective inducer as allogenic material. Ectopic bone formation assay was optimised for biocompatibility studies of orthopaedic NiTi implants. Ti-6Al-4V and stainless steel were used as reference materials. The assay showed differences in bone mineral densities, with superior qualities in NiTi. The rate of endochondral ossification varied between the implants, NiTi ossicles had larger cartilage and bone areas than ossicles of the two other materials. The cytocompatibility of NiTi was studied with three different methods. Cell viability, cell adhesion and TGF-β1 concentration were assessed in ROS-17/2.8 cell cultures. Cells grown on NiTi had better viability than cells grown on pure nickel or stainless steel. Cell attachment on the materials was studied with paxillin staining of focal contacts. The number of focal contacts was clearly higher in cells grown on NiTi than in cells grown on pure titanium, pure nickel or stainless steel. TGF-β1 concentration was measured with ELISA. The results showed that there was only some minor variation between NiTi, pure titanium and stainless steel. Nickel showed a lower TGF-β1 concentration. Taken together, these results suggest that NiTi is well tolerated by ROS-17/2.8 cells. The cytocompatibility of stainless steel is not so good as that of NiTi. The same tests were used to study the effects of the surface roughness of the implant on cytocompatibility. Three different surface roughness grades were compared in cell cultures on NiTi and titanium alloy discs. Titanium alloy was subjected to two different heat treatments, to compare the effects of the treatments on cytocompatibility. The studies showed that NiTi had a lesser impact on cell viability and attachment than titanium alloy. Further, rough NiTi was found to be a better tolerated surface than the others. In this study, heat treatment of titanium alloy at +850° C did not interfere with cell viability or attachment, as did the +1050° C treatment of the alloy. On the contrary, TGF-β1 concentrations decreased on the +850° C treated alloy and were approximately same on the +1050° C treated alloy and on NiTi.