Biological implications of growth factors in bone remodeling following fracture, surgical resection and bonegrafting. Part 1: Transforming growth factors, bone morphogenetic proteins and related factors

In order to improve the scientific outcome for bone surgery including fracture healing and bone remodeling processes after correcting facial bone or surgical bone loss, this review focuses on the biophysiology of transforming growth factors (TGF) and bone morphogratic protein (BMP) in the bone remodeling system. Surgical techniques involving the oral maxillofacial skeleton have advanced mainly from experience and experimental models as in traumatology or oncological surgery.

Bone regeneration and calcification are performed at function balances for osteoblastic growth and osteoclastic resorption. Bone synthesis is mediated with differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells. This mechanism is concerned with various growth factors: i.e. TGF and BMP, and those associated factors, as growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5), cartilage-derived morphologenetic protein (CDMP), noggin, chordin and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Except for TGF and BMP, the biological properties of other novel growth factors participating in bone forming activity have not been routinely introduced. The bone remodeling system is a complex phenomenon as well as varying growth factor system for osteoprogenitor target cells. The knowledge obtained from this review will benefit the healing processes and/or bone remodeling system following surgical procedures in the oral-maxillofacial area.