The Interaction of BMP2-Induced Defect Healing in Rat and Fixator Stiffness Modulates Matrix Alignment and Contraction

Successful fracture healing requires a tight interplay between mechanical and biological cues. In vitro studies illustrated that mechanical loading modulates bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. However, in the early phases of large bone defect regeneration in vivo, the underlying mechanisms leading to this mechanosensation remained unknown. We investigated the interaction of BMP2 stimulation and mechanical boundary conditions in a rat critical‐sized femoral defect model (5 mm) stabilized with three distinctly different external fixator stiffness. Defects were treated with 5 μg rhBMP2 loaded on an absorbable collagen sponge. Early matrix alignment was monitored by second‐harmonic generation imaging. Bony bridging of defects and successive healing was monitored by histology at day 7 and day 14 as well as in vivo microCT at days 10, 21, and 42 post‐operation. Femora harvested at day 42 were characterized mechanically assessing torsional load to failure ex vivo. At tissue level, differences between groups were visible at day 14 with manifest bone formation in the microCT. Histologically, we observed prolonged chondrogenesis upon flexible fixation, whereas osteogenesis started earlier after rigid and semirigid fixation. At later time points, there was a boost of bone tissue formation upon flexible fixation, whereas other groups already displayed signs of tissue maturation. Based on gene expression profiling, we analyzed the mechanobiological interplay. Already at day 3, these analyses revealed differences in expression pattern, specifically of genes involved in extracellular matrix formation. Gene regulation correlating with fixator stiffness was pronounced at day 7 comprising genes related to immunological processes and cellular contraction. The influence of loading on matrix contraction was further investigated and confirmed in a 3D bioreactor. Taken together, we demonstrate an early onset of mechanical conditions influencing BMP2‐induced defect healing and shed light on gene regulatory networks associated with extracellular matrix organization and contraction that seemed to directly impact healing outcomes. © 2018 The Authors. JBMR Plus is published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.