OBJECTIVETo establish human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs) that express bone morphogenetic protein 2 and observe their osteogenesis in vivo, so as to provide fundamental data for future study on gene therapy of periodontal defect treatment.

METHODSThe phagemid expression vector for BMP-2 (pBK-B2) was transfected into HPDLFs by using Lipofect AMINE. The BMP-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical ABC method. The BMP-2 gene transfected HPDLFs were injected into thigh muscle of nude mice under sterile condition. Specimens were collected in 21 days after injection and underwent normal procedures for fixation, decalcification, embedding, incising and staining with HE.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated that BMP-2 protein expressed in HPDLFs after BMP-2 gene transfection. The HPDLFs transfected with BMP-2 gene could induce new bone formation at the injection site.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that BMP-2 gene was transfected successfully and expressed efficiently in HPDLFs. The HPDLFs transfected with BMP-2 gene are capable of inducing new bone formation in vivo.