2005   Volume No 10– pages 70-77

Title: Effects of ultrasound on Transforming Growth Factor-beta genes in bone cells

Authors: J Harle, F Mayia, I Olsen, V Salih

Address: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK

E-mail: v.salih@eastman.ucl.ac.uk

Key Words: Ultrasound, Bone, Cells, Culture, Genes, Polymerase chain reaction, Biophysical stimuli, Mechanisms, Acoustics, Non-invasive technique

Publication date: December 5th 2005

Abstract: Therapeutic ultrasound (US) is a widely used form of biophysical stimulation that is increasingly applied to promote fracture healing. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which is encoded by three related but different genes, is known to play a major part in bone growth and repair. However, the effects of US on the expression of the TGF-beta genes and the physical acoustic mechanisms involved in initiating changes in gene expression in vitro, are not yet known. The present study demonstrates that US had a differential effect on these TGF-beta isoforms in a human osteoblast cell line, with the highest dose eliciting the most pronounced up-regulation of both TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 at 1 hour after treatment and thereafter declining. In contrast, US had no effect on TGF-beta2 expression. Fluid streaming rather than thermal effects or cavitation was found to be the most likely explanation for the gene responses observed in vitro.

Article download: Pages 70-77. (PDF file)