Articular cartilage regeneration by autologous mesenchymal stem cells using a novel nano-composite collagenous scaffold
Jose A Andrades
Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:
Since bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are an excellent cell source for cartilage regeneration, our aim is to implant autologous BMMSCs, directly or following chondrogenesis differentiation using a nano-composite collagenous biomaterial, as an additional approach to the use of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) or regular membrane ACI (MACI).
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Cells from rabbit marrow were plated and cultured as passage 0. Groups were: 1) MSCs cultured at passage 0, and 2) MSCs pre-differentiated in vitro to chondrogenesis. One million of autologous MSCs were seeded by vacuum on a nano-collagen membrane, and incubated for 1h. At the time of transplantation, a full thickness osteochondral defect was created in the femur, and the defects were filled with the MSCs/nano-collagen composites, obtained by nucleating collagen fibrils with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. In controls, defects were let empty. Animals were sacrified at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. Samples were examined by histology.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
At 24 weeks the defect area in the control group decreased but still remained. In the group 2, the defects were covered with whitish tissue but the margins were still distinct. In the group 1, the peripheral lesion of the defect appeared to integrate into the surrounding native cartilage. Histologically, at 24 weeks the defects in the control and group 2 were filled with fibrous tissue with no or poor cartilage matrix formation, respectively. However, with BMMSCs the cartilage defects were healed and cartilage matrix was well developed. Also, the interface between the native and regenerated tissue was well integrated. Conclusion: We have demonstrated the optimal culture conditions using BMMSCs for in vivo chondrogenesis implantation, and that this novel osteochondral nano-scaffold is safe and easy to use. This may represent a suitable matrix to direct and coordinate the process of hyaline-like cartilage regeneration.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Supported by BIO2009-13903-C02-01, PLE2009-0163, FIS PI10-2529, PI-0729-2010, P07-CVI-2781, PAIDI BIO-217, and Red TerCel (Institute of Health Carlos III), Spain.
