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Repair of segmental bone defects in rabbit tibia promoted by a complex of β-tricalcium phosphate and hepatocyte growth factor

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

Segmental bone defect repair remains a clinical and scientific challenge with increasing interest focused on bone tissue engineering. Clinical studies are ongoing to address application of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) for treatment of some diseases; however, the use of HGF in bone tissue engineering has not been addressed. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of HGF in a complex of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and collagen in repairing segmental bone defects.

Methods

Segmental bone defects 5 mm long were created in the middle of the tibial shafts of rabbits. The defect was stabilized with external fixators and implanted with a complex of β-TCP granules and collagen, with or without 100 μg recombinant human HGF. Biweekly, bone regeneration and β-TCP resorption were assessed radiographically and histologically. At 4 and 8 weeks, bone regeneration was evaluated by use of micro-computed tomography and mechanical tests.

Results

Compared with the bone tissue treated with β-TCP and collagen, mineralization, angiogenesis, new bone formation, and absorption of β-TCP were promoted 4 weeks postoperatively by treatment with HGF in the β-TCP and collagen group. These changes were associated with promoting biomechanical regeneration. By 8 weeks, the formation of bone marrow in newly generated bone and absorption of the β-TCP granules were completed in a shorter period by combining HGF with β-TCP and collagen, compared with tissues without HGF.

Conclusions

The combined application of HGF in a β-TCP and collagen matrix promoted histological bone healing and augmented mechanical strength of the healing bone, particularly in the early stages. The combined use of HGF and β-TCP for treatment of bone defects made a substantial difference.

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Conflict of interest

The authors did not receive and will not receive any benefits or funding from any commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan

    Kenichi Goshima, Junsuke Nakase & Hiroyuki Tsuchiya

  2. Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan

    Qing Xu & Kunio Matsumoto

Authors
  1. Kenichi Goshima
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  2. Junsuke Nakase
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  3. Qing Xu
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  4. Kunio Matsumoto
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  5. Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenichi Goshima.

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Goshima, K., Nakase, J., Xu, Q. et al. Repair of segmental bone defects in rabbit tibia promoted by a complex of β-tricalcium phosphate and hepatocyte growth factor. J Orthop Sci 17, 639–648 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-012-0262-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-012-0262-4

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