Partial purification and characterization of bone morphogenetic protein from bone matrix of the premature moose (Alces alces): degradation of bone-inducing activity during storage.

In spite of the advances in recombinant techniques in the production of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), the best clinical results so far have been obtained with human and animal source-extracted BMPs. Also, the poor availability of recombinant products gives rise to continued research with different extracted and purified proteins. In a search for a new source of bone-matrix-derived BMP with high osteoinductive activity, BMP was extracted from fresh bone matrix of the premature moose (Alces alces). Bone-inducing activity was investigated by implanting 0.5-20 mg of BMP into thigh muscle pouches of BALB mice. Radiologically detectable formation of new bone required 2.0 mg of partially purified BMP. Immediately after the extraction, an analytic chromatogram with known molecular weight (MW) markers showed three fractions with different MWs. After 15 months of storage at +1 degree C lyophilized and desiccated, BMP was fractionated by HPLC gel filtration and bioassayed. New bone formation was evaluated qualitatively by histology and quantitatively by radiomorphometry, the quantity of calcified tissue per milligram of implanted agent being determined. Fractions I and III, with high (100-700 kD) and low MW (15-25 kD), respectively, were apparently more effective inducers of new bone than the second-time-tested partially purified BMP complex, the activity of which had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased during 15 months of storage compared to initial results after extraction. However, the bone-inducing activity of fractions I and III corresponded closely to the initial activity of the BMP complex. Fraction II, with medium MW (25-55 kD), caused an apparent inflammatory reaction and no bone formation, and was though to be immunogeneic. Fraction III was considered to include the dominant BMP component with MW 18.5 and fraction I an association of BMP with other non-collagenous bone matrix proteins after one-step gel filtration. The results suggest that BMP from the premature moose has high bone-forming activity. With identification and removal of apparently immunogenic protein fractions, the inflammatory reaction and inhibitory effect on bone induction could be eliminated, and still higher bone-forming activity was attained. Acid protease enzymes were assumed to be responsible for the observed decline in the inductive activity of semi-purified BMP after 15 months of storage, as both osteoinductive fractions proved to be acidic in isoelectric focusing.