In vitro and in vivo evaluation of osteoinductivity and bone fusion ability of an activin a/BMP2 chimera (AB204): a comparison study between AB204 and rhBMP-2

Abstract

This study compared osteoinductivity and osteogenic capacity between AB204 and rhBMP-2 using hMSCs in vitro and a beagle’s posterolateral spinal fusion model. Cultured hMSCs were treated with AB204 or rhBMP-2 with low to high doses. Three male beagles were performed posterolateral spinal fusion with biphasic calcium phosphate (2 ml) + AB204 or rhBMP-2 (20, 50 or 200 µg). They were euthanized after 8 weeks. The fusion rate and bone formation of spine samples were examined. AB204 had higher alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization and osteogenic-related gene expression than rhBMP-2. Fusion rates in all rhBMP-2 groups were 0. They were 100% for 50 μg and 200 μg AB204 groups. Therefore, AB204 showed higher osteogenicity than rhBMP-2. It could be a better bone graft substitute.

Keywords:

• Osteoinduction
• posterolateral fusion
• activin
• AB204
• rhBMP-2

Disclosure statement

JH Lee has stocks in Biobetter Biologics. GB Zheng reports no conflicts of interest. YZ Jin reports no conflict of interest. No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Mid-career Researcher Program through NRF grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) [2016R1A2B3015048].