Early events: the in vitro conversion of BMP transduced fibroblasts to chondroblasts.

Strategies for localized skeletal regeneration using either cell or ex vivo gene transfer typically utilize preosteoblasts from bone or bone marrow biopsies. Our studies have demonstrated than ex vivo bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) transduced fibroblasts convert to osteoblasts and form bone in vivo. In addition when suspended in a variety of thermoset hydrogels, these cells are capable of ectopic or orthotopic bone formation.