Unlocking Insights: A Translational Mouse Model For Non-Genetic Heterotopic Ossification

Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to the abnormal formation of bone in soft tissues, which can occur due to both genetic and non-genetic factors. Non-genetic HO is commonly triggered by surgery, trauma, or thermal injury, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and joint immobility. It can manifest either locally at the injury site or at distant, uninjured areas, making effective and targeted treatment options particularly challenging.

This case study highlights the expertise of Aragen's scientists in assisting a client to overcome the unpredictability of HO localization. By reproducing a thermal lesion/tenotomy-induced mouse model, they successfully recreated a scenario that mimics both localized trauma (via tenotomy) and global inflammation (via a distant thermal lesion). This model leads to the development of focused HO, providing a valuable tool for the advancement of targeted interventions aimed at addressing HO in a controlled and predictable manner.