Combined bone morphogenetic protein-2 and -7 gene transfer enhances osteoblastic differentiation and spine fusion in a rodent model

To enhance the osteogenic activity of BMP, combination BMP2 and BMP7 gene transfer was performed. This approach led to a significant increase in osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal precursors compared with single BMP gene transfer in vitro. When tested in 78 rats, combination gene transfer enhanced mechanically stable spine fusion and bone formation rate versus single BMP gene transfer.