In vivocartilage repair using adipose-derived stem cell-loaded decellularized cartilage ECM scaffolds

Abstract

We have previously reported a natural, human cartilage ECM (extracellular matrix)-derived three-dimensional (3D) porous acellular scaffold for in vivo cartilage tissue engineering in nude mice. However, the in vivo repair effects of this scaffold are still unknown. The aim of this study was to further explore the feasibility of application of cell-loaded scaffolds, using autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), for cartilage defect repair in rabbits. A defect 4 mm in diameter was created on the patellar groove of the femur in both knees, and was repaired with the chondrogenically induced ADSC-scaffold constructs (group A) or the scaffold alone (group B); defects without treatment were used as controls (group C). The results showed that in group A all defects were fully filled with repair tissue and at 6 months post-surgery most of the repair site was filled with hyaline cartilage. In contrast, in group B all defects were partially filled with repair tissue, but only half of the repair tissue was hyaline cartilage. Defects were only filled with fibrotic tissue in group C. Indeed, histological grading score analysis revealed that an average score in group A was higher than in groups B and C. GAG and type II collagen content and biomechanical property detection showed that the group A levels approached those of normal cartilage. In conclusion, ADSC-loaded cartilage ECM scaffolds induced cartilage repair tissue comparable to native cartilage in terms of mechanical properties and biochemical components.

Bioengineering of Articular Cartilage: Past, Present and Future

“…The matrix did however support the growth of chondrocytes and re-acculumation of proteoglycans in the process of in vitro culture [147]. Kang et al also reported the use of decellularized cartilage ECM scaffold loaded with adipose stem cells [148]. They used a rabbit osteochondral defect model to show adipose stem cell loaded ECM scaffold induced cartilage repair tissue comparable to native cartilage in both mechanical and biochemical properties at 6 months.…”

Controlled release of transforming growth factor-β3 from cartilage-extra-cellular-matrix-derived scaffolds to promote chondrogenesis of human-joint-tissue-derived stem cells

“…heart valves, blood vessels, skin and cartilage [8,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]) scaffolds. In the case of articular cartilage, numerous studies have demonstrated that scaffolds derived from devitalized cartilage are chondroinductive and show great promise for regenerating damaged joints [8,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47].…”

Influence on Chondrogenesis of Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes in Co-Culture with Donor-Matched Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Infrapatellar Fat Pad and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue

“…Beside differentiated cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that can be isolated from several adult tissues, such as bone marrow and adipose tissue, have been proposed as an alternative to ACs thanks to their demonstrated proliferative and chondrogenic ability (12,13). Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have been successfully used in several in vivo studies for cartilage generation (14)(15)(16). Thus, when developing treatments for knee chondral lesions, infrapatellar fat pad and knee subcutaneous adipose tissue, that are easily accessible during orthopaedic surgery, can be considered appealing sources for MSCs harvesting (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”