Human amniotic membrane intra-articular injection prevents cartilage damage in an osteoarthritis model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects the soft tissues and bones of involved articulations as a result of deregulation between synthesis and extracellular matrix degradation in articular cartilage. The present study evaluated the effect of intra-articular injection of human amniotic membrane (AM) as a treatment in an OA animal model in the knee. Chemical OA was developed in the knees of New Zealand rabbits. Once OA was established, the right knees only were treated with an intra-articular injection of human AM, with the left knees considered as a negative control group. The evaluation was performed at 3 and 6 weeks post-treatment. At 3 weeks post-injection, the cartilage exhibited fibrillation, erosion, cracks and cell clusters in the negative control group, but not in the treated group (P=0.028). At 6 weeks post-injection, the left knees exhibited hypertrophy, cracks, cell clusters, decreased matrix staining and structure loss. However, the right knees exhibited cell clusters without evidence of disruption in cartilage integrity (P=0.015). These results suggested that the intra-articular injection of human AM delays histological changes of cartilage in OA.

Cotransfected human chondrocytes: over-expression of IGF-I and SOX9 enhances the synthesis of cartilage matrix components collagen-II and glycosaminoglycans

Damage to cartilage causes a loss of type II collagen (Col-II) and glycosaminoglycans (GAG). To restore the original cartilage architecture, cell factors that stimulate Col-II and GAG production are needed. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and transcription factor SOX9are essential for the synthesis of cartilage matrix, chondrocyte proliferation, and phenotype maintenance. We evaluated the combined effect of IGF-I and SOX9 transgene expression on Col-II and GAG production by cultured human articular chondrocytes. Transient transfection and cotransfection were performed using two mammalian expression plasmids (pCMV-SPORT6), one for each transgene. At day 9 post-transfection, the chondrocytes that were over-expressing IGF-I/SOX9 showed 2-fold increased mRNA expression of the Col-II gene, as well as a 57% increase in Col-II protein, whereas type I collagen expression (Col-I) was decreased by 59.3% compared with controls. The production of GAG by these cells increased significantly compared with the controls at day 9 (3.3- vs 1.8-times, an increase of almost 83%). Thus, IGF-I/SOX9 cotransfected chondrocytes may be useful for cell-based articular cartilage therapies.

Cotransfected human chondrocytes: over-expression of IGF-I and SOX9 enhances the synthesis of cartilage matrix components collagen-II and glycosaminoglycans.

Damage to cartilage causes a loss of type II collagen (Col-II) and glycosaminoglycans (GAG). To restore the original cartilage architecture, cell factors that stimulate Col-II and GAG production are needed. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and transcription factor SOX9are essential for the synthesis of cartilage matrix, chondrocyte proliferation, and phenotype maintenance. We evaluated the combined effect of IGF-I and SOX9 transgene expression on Col-II and GAG production by cultured human articular chondrocytes. Transient transfection and cotransfection were performed using two mammalian expression plasmids (pCMV-SPORT6), one for each transgene. At day 9 post-transfection, the chondrocytes that were over-expressing IGF-I/SOX9 showed 2-fold increased mRNA expression of the Col-II gene, as well as a 57% increase in Col-II protein, whereas type I collagen expression (Col-I) was decreased by 59.3% compared with controls. The production of GAG by these cells increased significantly compared with the controls at day 9 (3.3- vs 1.8-times, an increase of almost 83%). Thus, IGF-I/SOX9 cotransfected chondrocytes may be useful for cell-based articular cartilage therapies.

Lesiones condrales de rodilla tratadas con trasplante de condrocitos autólogos en una matriz tridimensional: Evaluación clínica a un año de evolución / Chondral knee lesions treated with autologous chondrocyte transplant in a three-dimensionematrix: Clinical assessment at one year of evolution

Objetivos: evaluar la evolución clínica de pacientes tratados con Implante de Condrocitos Autólogos (ICA) en una matriz tridimensional, creada en nuestro Banco de Hueso y Tejidos. Pacientes y metodología: 22 pacientes, 15 fueron evaluados a un año de la cirugía, 6 hombres y 9 mujeres, con una media de edad de 42 años. Siete fueron rodillas izquierdas y ocho derechas y la localización fue en nueve casos en el cóndilo lateral, cuatro en el cóndilo medial, uno en la rótula y otro en ambos cóndilos. Se obtuvieron artroscópicamente condrocitos autólogos que, una vez procesados, se colocaron en la matriz (Condrograft®). Resultados: con el WOMAC antes de la cirugía se obtuvo un promedio de 56,4, y de 16,2 después de la cirugía (<0,002) y con el de Oxford el promedio fue de 18,8. El promedio de la valoración con el KOOS fue de 83,6. Los hombres presentaron una media de 88,1 mientras que las mujeres de 80,5. Los pacientes con lesión en el cóndilo lateral presentaron una media de 86,7 puntos, y los afectados del cóndilo medial 88,2. Conclusión: el ICA en una matriz tridimensional es efectiva para el tratamiento de pacientes con lesiones osteocondrales, al menos, a corto plazo (AU)

Objective: To establish clinical outcome in patients treated with an autologous chondrocyte implant (ACI) in a three-dimension matrix created at our Bone and Tissue Bank. Patients and methods: Twenty-two patients were operated, 15 of whom were evaluated at one year of surgery. The patients included 6 men and 9 women with a mean age of 42 years. Seven were left knees and eight right and in nine cases the location was the lateral acetabulum, in four the medial acetabulum, in one the patella, and the other in both acetabula. Autologous chondrocytes were obtained by arthroscopy that, once processed, were placed in the matrix (Condrograft®). Results: With the WOMAC prior to surgery, an average of 56.4 and 16.2 was obtained after surgery (<0.002). With Oxford, the average was 18.8. The average assessment with KOOS was 83.6. Men had a mean of 88.1, while women had 80.5. Patients with lesion in the lateral acetabulum had a mean of 86.7 points and those with the medial acetabulum affected 88.2. Conclusion: The ACI in a three-dimension matrix is effective for treating patients with osteochondral lesions, at least in the short term (AU)