The effect of fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on porcine chondrocytes and tissue-engineered autologous elastic cartilage.

Elastic cartilage responds mitogenically in vitro to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF). We studied the effects of these growth factors separately or in a combination on porcine auricular chondrocytes in vitro and on the autologous elastic cartilage produced. Cells were harvested from the elastic auricular cartilage of 16- to 18-kg Yorkshire swine. Viability and quantification of the cells was determined. Cells were plated at equal concentration and studied in vitro in one of four identical media environments except for the growth factors: Group I contained Ham's F-12 with supplements but no growth factors, Group II also contained basic-FGF, Group III also contained TGF-beta, and Group IV also contained a combination of both growth factors. After 3 weeks in vitro, the cells were chemically dissociated with 0.25% trypsin. Cell suspensions composed of 3 x 10(7) cells/cc in 30% Pluronic F-127/Ham's F-12 were injected subcutaneously. Implants were harvested at 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of in vivo culture and then were examined with histologic stains. After 3 weeks of in vitro culture the total number of cells was as follows: Group I, 1.8 x 10(8); Group II, 3.5 x 10(8); Group III, 1.3 x 10(8); Group IV, 2.5 x 10(8). After 8 weeks of in vivo autologous implantation, the average weight (g) and volume (cm3) of each group was as follows: Group I, 0.7 g/0.15 cm3; Group II, 1.5 g/0.8 cm3; Group III, 0.6 g/0.1 cm3; Group IV, 1.2 g/0.3 cm3. Histologically, Groups I, II, and IV generated cartilage similar to native elastic cartilage, but Group III specimens demonstrated fibrous tissue ingrowth. Basic FGF produced the most positive enhancement on the quantity and quality of autologous tissue engineered elastic cartilage produced in this porcine model both in vitro and in vivo.

Internal support of tissue-engineered cartilage.

BACKGROUND: Auricles previously created by tissue engineering in nude mice used a biodegradable internal scaffold to maintain the desired shape of an ear. However, the biodegradable scaffold incited a compromising inflammatory response in subsequent experiments in immunocompetent animals. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that tissue-engineered autologous cartilage can be bioincorporated with a nonreactive, permanent endoskeletal scaffold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Auricular elastic cartilage was harvested from Yorkshire swine. The chondrocytes were isolated and suspended into a hydrogel (Pluronic F-127) at a cell concentration of 5 x 10(7) cells/mL. Nonbiodegradable endoskeletal scaffolds were formed with 1 of 5 polymers: (1) high-density polyethylene, (2) soft acrylic, (3) polymethylmethacrylate, (4) extrapurified Silastic, and (5) conventional Silastic. Three groups were studied: (1) a control group using only the 5 polymers, (2) the 5 polymers enveloped by Pluronic F-127 only, and (3) the implants coated with Pluronic F-127 seeded with chondrocytes. All constructs were implanted subdermally; implants containing cells were implanted into the same animal from which the cells had been islolated. The implants were harvested after 8 weeks of in vivo culture and histologically analyzed. RESULTS: Only implants coated by hydrogel plus cells generated healthy new cartilage. With 3 polymers (high-density polyethylene, acrylic, and extrapurified Silastic), the coverage was nearly complete by elastic cartilage, with minimal fibrocartilage and minimal to no inflammatory reaction. The Food and Drug Administration-approved conventional Silastic implants resulted in fragments of fibrous tissue mixed with elastic cartilage plus evidence of chronic inflammation. The polymethylmethacrylate implant was intermediate in the amount of cartilage formed and degree of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot technique combining tissue-engineered autologous elastic cartilage with a permanent biocompatible endoskeleton demonstrated success in limiting the inflammatory response to the scaffold, especially to high-density polyethylene, acrylic, and extrapurified Silastic. This model facilitates the potential to generate tissue of intricate shape, such as the human ear, by internal support. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:1448-1452

Influence of growth factors on tissue-engineered pediatric elastic cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of growth factors on tissue-engineered pediatric human elastic cartilage relative to potential clinical application. DESIGN: Controlled study. SUBJECTS: Eleven children ranging in age from 5 to 15 years provided auricular elastic cartilage specimens measuring approximately 1 x 1 x 0.2 cm and weighing approximately 100 mg. INTERVENTIONS: Three million chondrocytes were plated into 4 groups of Ham F-12 culture medium: group 1, Ham F-12 culture medium only; no growth factors (control group); group 2, Ham F-12 culture medium and basic fibroblast growth factor; group 3, Ham F-12 culture medium and transforming growth actor beta; and group 4, Ham F-12 culture medium and a combination of both growth factors. At 3 weeks, the cells were harvested and mixed with a copolymer gel of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene oxide (Pluronic F-127). The cell solution was injected subcutaneously into athymic mice. The constructs were harvested at up to 22 weeks of in vivo culture and histologically analyzed. RESULTS: The average number of cells generated in vitro was as follows: group 1, 12 million; group 2, 40 million; group 3, 7 million; and group 4, 35 million. Group 2 in vivo gross specimens were the largest and heaviest. Histologically, the control group and the basic fibroblast growth factor group (groups 1 and 2) exhibited characteristics compatible with normal auricular cartilage; groups 3 and 4 demonstrated cellular disorganization and moderate to severe fibrous tissue infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Basic fibroblast growth factor demonstrates the greatest positive influence on the in vitro and in vivo growth of engineered pediatric human auricular cartilage. The results suggest that basic fibroblast growth factor has the potential for clinical application in which a goal will be to generate a large volume of tissue-engineered cartilage from a small donor specimen in a short period of time and of a quality similar to native human elastic cartilage.