Effects of harvest and selected cartilage repair procedures on the physical and biochemical properties of articular cartilage in the canine knee

Abstract

Summary:This study utilizes a canine model to quantify changes in articular cartilage 15-18 weeks after a knee joint is subjected to surgical treatment of isolated chondral defects. Clinical and experimental treatment of articular cartilage defects may include implantation of matrix materials or cells, or both. Three cartilage repair methods were evaluated: microfracture, microh-acture and implantation of a type-I1 collagen matrix. and implantation of an autologous chondrocyte-seeded collagen matrix. The properties of articular cartilage in other knee joints subjected to harvest of arlicular cartilage lrom the trochlear ridge (to obtain cells for the cell-seeded procedure) were also evaluated. Physical properties (thickness, equilibrium compressive modulus, dynamic compressive stiffness, and streaming potential) and biochemical composition (hydration, glycosaminoglycan content, and DNA content) of the cartilage from sites distant to the surgical treatment were compared with values measured for site-matched controls in untreated knee joints. N o significant differences were secn in joints subjected to any of the three cartilage repair procedures. However, a number of changes were induced by the harvest operation. The largest changes (displaying up to 3-fold increases) were seen in dynamic stiffness and streaming potential of patellar groove cartilage from joints subjected to the harvest procedure. Whether the changes reported will lead to osteoarthritic degeneration is unknown, but this study provides evidence that the harvest procedure associated with autologous cell transplantation for treatment of chondral defects may result in changes in the articular cartilage in the joint.

2010 Nicolas Andry Award: Multipotent Adult Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering

“…Although clinical studies of autologous chondrocyte transplantation generally have reported significant improvements in pain, swelling, and function after surgery [9,60], one controlled prospective trial showed no benefit of autologous chondrocyte implantation as compared with the standard treatment of microfracture of the subchondral bone, as based on indices of joint function, pain, or characteristics of the cartilage defect [47]. Furthermore, an animal study suggested the harvest procedure may induce donor-site morbidity and iatrogenic damage that may initiate osteoarthritic degeneration in the joint [50]. Thus, such procedures clearly would benefit from the availability of a safe and abundant source of chondrocyte progenitor cells for cartilage repair.…”

Effects of a cultured autologous chondrocyte‐seeded type II collagen scaffold on the healing of a chondral defect in a canine model

“…The indenter was lowered to contact the specimen and three successive computer-controlled ramp-and-hold displacements were applied to achieve approximately IOU/;,, 15% and 20% strain. Tissue thickness was estimated based on the thickness measured in the distal portion of the trochlear groove in unoperated canine joints (animals were the same breed and approximately the same age) [20]. After each ramp-and-hold displacement, stress relaxation was achieved within 5 min and the resulting equilibrium load was recorded and normalized to indenter area to calculate effective stress.…”

Efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in treating patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A meta-analysis

“…However, due to the complications and inferior quality of the regenerative fibrocartilage, risky and cost-effective joint replacement surgery is often ultimately required (8). Previous studies have investigated tissue engineering and cellular therapies for treating early stage OA, and autologous chondrocyte implantation has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes (9,10). Nevertheless, due to the poor self-renewal and regeneration potential of chondrocytes, it is a slow process that may lead to fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage (11,12).…”