Mechanism Of Ossification In Cervical Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Induced By RhBMP-2 And TGF-β

Objectives: To detect proliferation and osteogenesis characteristics of OPLL and mechanisms initiated by rhBMP-2 and TGF-β. Methods: Cells from normal posterior longitudinal ligament and OPLL were cultured, then proliferation and osteogenesis characteristics were detected. Cells were stimulated by different concentrative rhBMP-2 and TGF-β. The mRNA expression of Cbfa1 was detected with the method of Real-time PCR. The level of Smad4 protein was measured with the method of Western-Blot. The relation was analyzed. Results: OPLL cells grew faster significantly than normal. There was a significant statistical difference between OPLL and normal about activity of ALP and OC. Cells from normal ligament stimulated by TGF-βproliferated faster than control, while cells from OPLL proliferated slower than control. OPLL team showed significant different osteogenesis when stimulated with the two factors. The level of Smad4 showed the same trendency with Cbfa1. Conclusion: Cells from OPLL expresses part of osteoblastic characteristics. TGF-βpromotes the proliferation of normal cells and inhibites OPLL cells. Obvious osteogenesis is found in OPLL cell stimulated with TGF-βand rhBMP-2, Smads signal pathway plays a key role in intracellular signaling transduction during OPLL induced by TGF-βand BMP-2.