Adenovirus-mediated Transfer Of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Gene To Rabbit Injured Intervertebral Disc

Objective: to establish an animal model for IDD;to construct the adenoviral vector of recombinant human BMP-7 gene;to observe the effect of rhBMP-7 gene on intervertebral disc. Methods: Four weeks after the stab of intervertebral disc by 24G needle, the effect was observed. The adenoviral vector of BMP-7 was constructed by the method of contransfection. And it was packaged in 293 cells. Then the titer of vector was determined. The expression of BMP-7 was determined 3 days after the injection of Ad-BMP-7. Twenty animals were randomized into NS group;Ad-BMP7 group;and control group. And on the postoperation week 2, week 4, week 8, and week12, the disc height, MRI T2 value, NP water content, NP s-GAG content was determined. Results: Four weeks after puncture, L5/6 showed significant signs of degeneration. The adenoviral vector of rhBMP-7 gene was successfully constructed with a titer of 1.2×10¹²PFU/ml. On the postoperation day 3, the expression of BMP-7 was evident. And on all time points, there were statistically significant difference among the NS group, Ad-BMP7 group and the control group. Conclusion: BMP-7 seems to be able to postpone the process of intervertebral degeneration, which provides basis for further study.