Xenotransplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells for repair of osteochondral defects in rabbits using osteochondral biphasic composite constructs

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2014-06, Vol.22 (6), p.1434-1444
• Main Authors: Jang, Ki-Mo, Lee, Ju-Han, Park, Chan Mi, Song, Hae-Ryong, Wang, Joon Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Platelets; Bone Diseases - pathology; Bone Diseases - surgery; Bone marrow; Cartilage; Cartilage - transplantation; Cartilage Diseases - pathology; Cartilage Diseases - surgery; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Cartilage, Articular - surgery; Defects; Disease Models, Animal; Durapatite - administration & dosage; Experimental Study; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; Growth factors; Humans; Hydroxyapatite; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Orthopedics; Rabbits; Regeneration; Stem cells; Surgery; Tissue Engineering; Transplantation, Heterologous; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-013-2426-y

Purpose The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of non-autologous transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with or without differentiation for the regeneration of osteochondral defects in rabbits using a biphasic composite construct composed of platelet-rich fibrin glue (PR-FG) and hydroxyapatite. Methods After isolation and culture, hMSCs were seeded on biphasic composite constructs (hydroxyapatite + PR-FG) and transplanted into osteochondral defects of adult New Zealand white rabbits. Treatment of individual defects was applied by random assignment to one of five groups: (1) control, defects untreated; (2) hydroxyapatite, defects filled with hydroxyapatite only; (3) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG, defects filled with a composite of hydroxyapatite and PR-FG; (4) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + undifferentiated hMSCs; and (5) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + differentiated hMSCs. Rabbits were killed at 4 or 8 weeks post-surgery, at which time osteochondral repair was macroscopically and histologically evaluated and scored using the modified International Cartilage Repair Society scoring system. Results The group in which defects were seeded with differentiated hMSCs (group 5) showed superior healing of osteochondral defects based on macroscopic and histological observations compared to other groups. Specifically, 8 weeks after implantation, defects were filled with more hyaline-like cartilage and were better integrated with the surrounding native cartilage. The histological scores were significantly better than those of other groups (16.3 at 8 weeks, p