The feasibility study of rabbit meniscus tissue-engineering regeneration using the autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) and collagen glycosaminoglycan(GAG) biomaterial template / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective This is a feasibility study of rabbit meniscus regeneration evaluated with the use of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) and collagen glycosaminoglycan(GAG). Methods Autologous MSCs were prepared from the rabbit proximal tibial bone marrow and stimulated in vitro to start fibrocartilage differentiation lineage by bFGF and TGF ? 1. Then, collagen GAG templates enriched with these MSCs were implanted in vivo to the menisci excised rabbit knees as the substitute for the excised meniscus. After 3, 6, 12, 24 weeks postoperatively, the implants were evaluated by the gross, histological and ultrastructural observations. Results The MSCs enriched collagen GAG implants underwent inflammation, degradation, MSCs division and remodeling stages in vivo, and consequently formed a meniscus like fibrocartilage tissue. Special staining and electronic microscope observation proved that the regenerated fibrocartilage were chondrocyte like fibrochondrocytes; in contrast, the results of the control group showed that both collagen GAG implants without MSCs and no substitute had limited regenerating tissue, further evaluations by histological and electronic microscope showed no evidence of fibrochondrocytes, and hence these regenerated tissue were fibrous rather than fibrocartilaginous. Conclusion The inducing of rabbit meniscus regeneration by the autologous bone marrow derived MSCs and porous collagen GAG template is proved to be feasible in this study. However, further studies to improve the biomaterial design, to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the regenerated tissue and to ensure clinical safety etc are needed prior to its clinical application.