In this recent post, Michael indicated that he thought that LIPUS would not help the longitudinal growth of bone.  However, only certain MSCs expressing CMF608 may be able to form new growth plates.  Since LIPUS is a form of mechanical stimulus and CMF608 is sensitive to induced expression by mechanical stimuli, LIPUS may still be able to form new growth plates.

Optimizing a novel method for low intensity ultrasound in chondrogenesis induction

“Among MSCs, adipose stem cells (ASCs) are attractive because of accessibility, their large number, and rapid growth. Common in vitro protocols successfully induce chondrogenic differentiation by expression of multiple cartilage-specific molecules. However, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) promotes chondrogenesis to terminal stages{which is good for us because that’s what happens in the growth plate to cause longitudinal bone growth}.
In this study, we focused on inducing chondrogenesis in the early stages of differentiation by using low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS). Four groups of ASC pellets (control, ultrasound, TGFβ, and ultrasound/TGF) were cultured under chondrogenic (10 ng/ml of TGFβ3) and ultrasound conditions (200 mW/cm2, 10 min/day){much stronger stimuli than the study that did not find the length difference 30mW vs 200mW}. After 2 weeks, differentiation was evaluated.
Our data demonstrated that ultrasound differentiated pellets showed increased expression of early chondrogenesis marker, Col2A, than those in TGFβ groups, and Col2B and Col10 expression were more prominent in TGFβ groups. Immunostaining of sections showed Col2 fibrils around lacuna in LIUS and TGFβ treated groups.”

“ultrasound transducer directly on cells like chondrocytes or MSCs  [induces] chondrogenesis differentiation.”

“continuous wave at 1 MHz [for ultrasound]”<-the other study was pulsed wave.  Which is surprising as usually pulsed wave results in more beneficial effects on chondrogenesis and/or longitudinal bone growth.

“ASCs were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue taken from the knee”<-ASCs have slightly different properties than MSCs.  Also, the ASCs were taken from the knee which would have different properties than stem cells in the epiphyseal bone marrow.

“LIUS produces Col2A more than Col2B. Type IIA collagen is the splice variant of type II collagen that has been found in prechondrocytes and immature chondrocytes.”

“There are major differences between studies of this kind, therefore discrepancy of results could be caused by differences in the cell source, with or without scaffold, and LIUS stimulation mode, particularly transducer–cell distance.”<-explanation as to why the study mentioned by Michael does not indicate that LIPUS cannot aid with longitudinal bone growth.  We wouldn’t be able to affect with or without scaffold(but we could affect the properties of bone via supplements & exercise).  We wouldn’t be able to alter cell source.  We could alter LIPUS stimulation mode and potentially transducer-cell distance.