Lea Kanim

P114. Mass Effect versus Biologic Inhibition of rhBMP-2 Activity by Cellular Environment (Inorganic Polyethylene Beads versus Fibroblasts) – Implications on Use of BMP for Salvage of Fusion or Devices

increases varied for the 2 donors and for agg and col2. Rabbit NP cell gene expression was not affected by rhGDF-5. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the relative dose-dependent effects of rhGDF-5 on human and rabbit IVD cells and the first to investigate the effects of rhGDF-5 on rabbit IVD cell gene expression. Indicators of anabolic activity for human and rabbit AF cells and human NP cells increased with rhGDF-5 over the entire dose range, but rabbit NP cells were not responsive to any dose of rhGDF-5. In considering these differences, however, it is important to note that cell populations of human and rabbit NP are different (more notochordal cells in the rabbit NP) and that cells were at various stages of dedifferentiation, due to monolayer expansion, prior to alginate bead encapsulation. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS: This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.