Repairing full-thickness articular cartilage defects with homogrart of mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto cancellous demineralized bone matrix

Qiang LI; Jicun TANG; Zhengyi SUN; Shuanke WANG; Wenzhong LIU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Up to now, no universally successful therapy to treat substantial articular cartilage defects has been available. Numerous therapeutic approaches can only improve clinical symptoms of joint lesions, but not stimulate the regenerative and reactive capacity of the biological tissue in the defect, and not restore an articular surface capable of functional load bearing.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the curative effects of homograft of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded onto cancellous demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on articular cartilage defects.DESIGN, TIME AND

SETTING:

A randomized controlled study which conducted in Orthopaedics Institute, the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January to March 2005 and Central Laboratory of Guilin Medical Collage from May to August 2008.MATERIALS Bone metaphysis and vertebral cancellous bone were derived from rabbits to prepare DBM materials. MSCs were seed on DBM stent and cultured in vitro. All 36 rabbits were randomly divided into combination group (DBM/MSCs), DBM alone group, and blank control group, with 12 rabbits per group.

METHODS:

Full-thickness cartilage defect model of knee joint was frilled using a cylinder of 4 mm diameter and 3 mm thickness on intercondylar fossa. The cartilage defects in the intercondylar fossa were filled with MSCs/DBM in combination group A, with only DBM in the DBM group, and nothing was treated in the blank control group.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Four rabbits were killed at three time points, which were 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the operation in each group, and the reparative tissue samples were evaluated grossly, histologically, immunohistochemically and graded according to gross and histological scale.

RESULTS:

Tirty-six rabbits were included in the final analysis. The defects of MSCs/DBM transplantation were repaired by byline-like tissue, and the other defects were repaired by fibrous tissue. Gross and histological grading scale was made on 12 weeks postoperatively. Gross and histological scores in the MSCs/DBM group were significantly lower than DBM group and control group (P<0.05); while, the scores in the DBM group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The full-thickness cartilage defects of rabbits were repaired with homograft of mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto cancellous demineralized bone matrix, which is a promising way for the treatment of cartilage defects.