Repairing articular cartilage defects by transplantation of periosteum combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytesin vivo / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The main strategies for cartilage repair include abrasion and lavaging, driling, microfracture technology. But most of these technologies are considered certain limitations that can only aleviate pain and have short-term effects. Cartilage tissue engineering technology has great significance and broad application prospects for cartilage regeneration and repair. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of periosteum combined bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes on the repair of articular cartilage defects in the intercondylar fossa of the rabbit knee joints. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes were isolated and purified from rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were enroled to create articular defects in the intercondylar fossa with peiosteal coverage in both knee joints, and then these rabbits were randomly divided into two groups experimental and control groups. The defects in the left side were treated with transplantation of periosteum combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes or autologous periosteum in the experimental and control groups, respectively, while the defects in the right side received no treatment as blank controls. These rabbits were kiled at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery in each group and newborn tissue samples at defect site were taken for gross observation, histological observation and Wakitani scoring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 12 weeks after surgery, in the experimental group, the repaired tissues were substantialy smooth with a very similar color to the surrounding cartilage tissues, a large number of chondrocytes and cartilage lacunae were visible to form the cartilage matrix, type II colagen immunohistochemical staining was positive, and the tissue was stained darker with toluidine blue; in the control group, the repair tissues were stil white, the newborn tissues presented with local depression, less smooth surface, and hard texture, there was only a very smal amount of chondrocytes, toluidine blue staining was shalow, type II colagen immunohistochemical staining was negative, and no cartilage matrix formed; in the blank control group, the cartilage defects colapsed with irregular surface, the repaired tissues were fibrous tissues and stained lighter with toluidine blue. These findings indicate that autologous periosteum combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes can effectively repair articular cartilage defects.