An Improved, Chemically Modified RNA Encoding BMP-2 Enhances Osteogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo.

IMPACT STATEMENT: The use of chemically modified RNA (cmRNA) with increased stability using translation initiator of short untranslated regions (TISU) offers the prospect of finally allowing us to unlock the potent osteogenic properties of BMP-2 in a clinically expedient manner. As noted, delivery of recombinant BMP-2 protein has had modest clinical efficacy, whereas gene delivery is effective but very difficult to translate into human clinical use. This study shows the great potential of cmRNA encoding BMP-2 with TISU in a long-bone critical-sized rat model.