Background: We performed a multicenter, open, randomized, clinical study of autologous cultured osteoblast injection for long-bone fracture, to evaluate the fracture healing acceleration effect and the safety of autologous cultured osteoblasts.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can protect against cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis (OA) via their immunomodulatory capacities. However, the optimization strategy for using MSCs remains challenging. This study’s objective was to identify the in vivo effects of metformin-stimulated adipose tissue-derived human MSCs (Ad-hMSCs) in OA. An animal model of OA was established by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate into rats. OA rats were divided into a control group and two therapy groups (treated with Ad-hMSCs or metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs). Limb nociception was assessed by measuring the paw withdrawal latency and threshold. Our data show that metformin increased IL-10 and IDO expression in Ad-hMSCs and decreased high-mobility group box 1 protein, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression. Metformin increased the migration capacity of Ad-hMSCs with upregulation of chemokine expression. In cocultures, metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs inhibited the mRNA expression of RUNX2, COL X, VEGF, MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13 in IL-1β–stimulated OA chondrocytes and increased the expression of TIMP1 and TIMP3. The antinociceptive activity and chondroprotective effects were greater in OA rats treated with metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs than in those treated with unstimulated Ad-hMSCs. TGF-β expression in subchondral bone of OA joints was attenuated more in OA rats treated with metformin-stimulated Ad-hMSCs. Our findings suggest that metformin offers a promising option for the clinical application of Ad-hMSCs as a cell therapy for OA.

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BackgroundGel-type autologous chondrocyte (Chondron™) implantations have been used for several years without using periosteum or membrane. This study involves evaluations of the clinical results of Chondron™ at many clinical centers at various time points during the postoperative patient follow-up.MethodsData from 98 patients with articular cartilage injury of the knee joint and who underwent Chondron™ implantation at ten Korean hospitals between January 2005 and November 2008, were included and were divided into two groups based on the patient follow-up period, i.e. 13~24-month follow-up and greater than 25-month follow-up. The telephone Knee Society Score obtained during telephone interviews with patients, was used as the evaluation tool.ResultsOn the tKSS-A (telephone Knee Society Score-A), the score improved from 43.52 ± 20.20 to 89.71 ± 13.69 (P < 0.05), and on the tKSS-B (telephone Knee Society Score-B), the score improved from 50.66 ± 20.05 to 89.38 ± 15.76 (P < 0.05). The total improvement was from 94.18 ± 31.43 to 179.10 ± 24.69 (P < 0.05).ConclusionGel-type autologous chondrocyte implantation for chondral knee defects appears to be a safe and effective method for both decreasing pain and improving knee function.