Purpose: To determine if an adenovirus vector expressing BMP-7 can alter the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Method: Preliminary dose-response studies were done in ovine metacarpal-phalangeal joints using 10^9, 10^10, and 10^11 virus particles (VP). In-vitro transfection efficiency studies were done using ovine synovial cells, chondrocytes and HEK293 cells. In-vivo studies were conducted in 16 sheep that underwent surgery to create bilateral contusive impact injuries to the medial femoral condyle. One week later 10^9 VP were injected into one joint of each sheep, while four sheep remained untreated bilateral controls. Three months later the sheep were sacrificed for assessments including histological scoring, cartilage glycosaminoglycan assays, and immunostaining for Col2 3/4 short collagen fragments that are generated by metalloproteinases during OA progression.

Results: Transfection with 10^9 VP produced slightly longer expression than higher concentrations of VP. HEK293 cells expressed BMP-7 quickly but synoviocytes and chondrocytes expressed this protein at 48 and 96 hours. Knee joints that received Ad5-BMP-7 produced up to 2.5 ng of BMP-7 between day seven and 21. These joints had reduced cartilage degneration at the injury sites and less centrifugal progression of OA across the femoral condyle. Histological scores were reduced as was Col2 C3/4 short immunostaining.

Conclusion: BMP-7 has a homeostatic role in cartilage and can be used therapeutically¹. Ad5-BMP-7 transfection of synovial tissue produced sufficient BMP-7 to stop the progression of degenerative changes after trauma that would usually lead to OA. Adenoviral vectors can create inflammation and neutralizing antibodies but these complications were minimized by using a low (10^9) dose. Human trials using similar vectors are ongoing and the outcome of these will determine whether gene therapy will become a useful tool when patients are at risk of post-traumatic OA.