Sustained expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 by distraction during distraction osteogenesis

Distraction osteogenesis is a well-established clinical treatment for limb length discrepancy and skeletal deformities. In our previous studies, we have shown that the tension at the distraction gap correlated with the plasma bone specific alkaline phosphatase activity during distraction. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been shown to have a regulatory role in alkaline phosphatase activity during fracture healing. This study is to investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 during distraction as a biological response to mechanically stimulated osteoblastic activity by immunohistochemistry. The expression of TGF-beta1 in the distraction callus was compared with that in the fracture callus. During the distraction phase, the osteoblasts and osteocytes expressed a high level of TGF-beta1. Moderate expression of TGF-beta1 was observed in fibroblast-like cells in the fibrous zone of the distraction callus. After the distraction stopped, the expression of TGF-beta1 in different cell types decreased. In fracture healing, the strong expression of TGF-beta1 declined after the first week. Our results showed that the mechanical force induced and sustained TGF-beta1 expression in osteoblasts and fibroblasts-like cells of the distraction callus. Transforming growth factor-beta1 may play a role in transducing mechanical stimulation to biological tissue during in distraction osteogenesis.