Abstract: A method for enhancing and/or increasing the efficiency of repair of tissues, primarily bone or cartilage, using genetically engineered cells has been developed. In the preferred embodiment, mesenchymal stem cells are isolated from periosteum tissue, and transfected with the gene encoding a growth factor for the particular cell type to be repaired. For example, for repair of bone, a gene (or genes) encoding bone morphogenic protein is transfected into periosteal cells. The transfected periosteal cells then express the bone morphogenic protein in culture to promote bone repair as a function of the expressed bone morphogenic protein. Cells can be transfected using any appropriate means, including viral vectors, as shown by the example, chemical transfectants, or physico-mechanical methods such as electroporation and direct diffusion of DNA.

Abstract: A method for enhancing and/or increasing the efficiency of repair of tissues, primarily bone or cartilage, using genetically engineered cells has been developed. In the preferred embodiment, mesenchymal stem cells are isolated from periosteum tissue, and transfected with the gene encoding a growth factor for the particular cell type to be repaired. For example, for repair of bone, a gene (or genes) encoding bone morphogenic protein is transfected into periosteal cells. The transfected periosteal cells then express the bone morphogenic protein in culture to promote bone repair as a function of the expressed bone morphogenic protein. Cells can be transfected using any appropriate means, including viral vectors, as shown by the example, chemical transfectants, or physico-mechanical methods such as electroporation and direct diffusion of DNA.

Abstract: Periosteal cells have been grown in cell culture and have been shown to have an osteoblastic phenotype, with production of osteocalcin and glycosaminoglycan. When seeded into polymeric implants, repair of critical size cranial defects was demonstrated and was confirmed by histology, biochemical assays, and radiodensitometry.

Abstract: Provided are tissue scaffolds colonized by vertebrate cells expressing, a transgenic bioactive molecule, where the vertebrate cells are unable to undergo mitosis. Also provided are methods of growing tissue in a mammal and methods of delivering a transgenic bioactive molecule to a tissue of a mammal, using the tissue scaffolds. Additionally, methods of making the tissue scaffolds are provided.