Biologic modification of ligamentum flavum cells by marker gene transfer and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Study Design: The study involves an in vitro experiment using human ligamentum flavum (LF), adenovirus lacZ construct (Ad/lacZ), and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2).

Objectives: To demonstrate the feasibility of marker gene transfer to human LF cells and the effect of BMP-2 on the osteogenic differentiation of human LF cells.

Summary Of Background Data: BMP-2 is a widely known pivotal osteoinductive agent.