Osteoinduction
Pronunciation: os-tee-oh-in-DUK-shun
The biochemical process by which a graft material stimulates undifferentiated host cells to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts.
Full Definition
Osteoinduction is an active biological process whereby growth factors or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) within or released by a graft material recruit and convert mesenchymal stem cells into osteoprogenitor cells capable of forming new bone. This is distinct from osteoconduction, which is purely structural, and osteogenesis, which involves transplanted living cells directly producing bone. Demineralised freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) is the most commonly cited osteoinductive material in periodontal literature. Editors should ensure the correct mechanism is attributed to each graft type discussed.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly confused with osteoconduction. Always verify against the graft type; alloplasts are osteoconductive, not osteoinductive.
In Context
- "DFDBA is prized for its osteoinductive capacity due to residual bone morphogenetic proteins." — Research review article
- "The author incorrectly attributes osteoinduction to a synthetic scaffold; editors should query this claim." — Peer-review annotation