The cells of the rabbit meniscus: their arrangement, interrelationship, morphological variations and cytoarchitecture

Graverand, Marie‐Pierre Hellio Le; Ou, Yongchung; SCHIELD-YEE, TERESA; Barclay, Leona; Hart, David A.; NATSUME, TAKASHI; Rattner, J. B.

doi:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2000.19850525.x

Cited by 141 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This relative abundance of collagen type II and aggrecan in the inner region is more reminiscent of hyaline articular cartilage. Therefore, cells in this region are classified as fibrochondrocytes or chondrocyte-like cells [27, 28]. A third cell population has also been recognized in the superficial zone of the meniscus.…”

Section: Structure and Function Of The Knee Meniscusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The knee meniscus: Structure–function, pathophysiology, current repair techniques, and prospects for regeneration

2011

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Extensive scientific investigations in recent decades have established the anatomical, biomechanical, and functional importance that the meniscus holds within the knee joint. As a vital part of the joint, it acts to prevent the deterioration and degeneration of articular cartilage, and the onset and development of osteoarthritis. For this reason, research into meniscus repair has been the recipient of particular interest from the orthopedic and bioengineering communities. Current repair techniques are only effective in treating lesions located in the peripheral vascularized region of the meniscus. Healing lesions found in the inner avascular region, which functions under a highly demanding mechanical environment, is considered to be a significant challenge. An adequate treatment approach has yet to be established, though many attempts have been undertaken. The current primary method for treatment is partial meniscectomy, which commonly results in the progressive development of osteoarthritis. This drawback has shifted research interest towards the fields of biomaterials and bioengineering, where it is hoped that meniscal deterioration can be tackled with the help of tissue engineering. So far, different approaches and strategies have contributed to the in vitro generation of meniscus constructs, which are capable of restoring meniscal lesions to some extent, both functionally as well as anatomically. The selection of the appropriate cell source (autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic cells, or stem cells) is undoubtedly regarded as key to successful meniscal tissue engineering. Furthermore, a large variation of scaffolds for tissue engineering have been proposed and produced in experimental and clinical studies, although a few problems with these (e.g., byproducts of degradation, stress shielding) have shifted research interest towards new strategies (e.g., scaffoldless approaches, self-assembly). A large number of different chemical (e.g., TGF-β1, C-ABC) and mechanical stimuli (e.g., direct compression, hydrostatic pressure) have also been investigated, both in terms of encouraging functional tissue formation, as well as in differentiating stem cells. Even though the problems accompanying meniscus tissue engineering research are considerable, we are undoubtedly in the dawn of a new era, whereby recent advances in biology, engineering, and medicine are leading to the successful treatment of meniscal lesions.

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Section: Structure and Function Of The Knee Meniscusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The knee meniscus: Structure–function, pathophysiology, current repair techniques, and prospects for regeneration

2011

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“…Mature menisci contain heterogeneous cell populations. Meniscal cells (MC) located at outer vascular zone are oval and fusiform shaped with numerous projections that communicate with neighboring cells (Hellio Le Graverand et al, 2001a). They may be described as fibroblast-like cells (Makris et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, MC in the inner avascular zone appear more rounded and well separated from one another by surrounding ECM with relative abundance of collagen type II and GAG. Therefore, they are described as fibrochondrocytes or chondrocyte-like cells (Hellio Le Graverand et al, 2001a). MC at the meniscus superficial zone are flattened spindle-shaped without cell extensions (Hellio Le Graverand et al, 2001a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structured three‐dimensional co‐culture of mesenchymal stem cells with meniscus cells promotes meniscal phenotype without hypertrophy

Cui

Hasegawa

Lotz

et al. 2012

Biotech & Bioengineering

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Menisci play a crucial role in weight distribution, load bearing, shock absorption, lubrication, and nutrition of articular cartilage within the knee joint. Damage to the meniscus typically does not heal spontaneously due to its partial avascular nature. Partial or complete meniscectomy is a common clinical treatment of the defective meniscus. However, this procedure ultimately leads to osteoarthritis due to increased mechanical stress to the articular cartilage. Meniscus tissue engineering offers a promising solution for partial or complete meniscus deficiency. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have the potential to differentiate into meniscal fibrochondrocyte as well as deliver trophic effects to the differentiated cells. This study tested the feasibility of using MSC co‐cultured with mature meniscal cells (MC) for meniscus tissue engineering. Structured cell pellets were created using MC and MSC at varying ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) and cultured with or without transforming growth factor‐beta 3 supplemented chondrogenic media for 21 days. The meniscal and hypertrophic gene expression, gross appearance and structure of the pellets, meniscus extracellular matrix (ECM), histology and immunohistochemistry of proteoglycan and collagen were evaluated. Co‐culture of MC with MSC at 75:25 demonstrated highest levels of collagen type I and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) production, as well as the lowest levels of hypertrophic genes, such as COL10A1 and MMP13. All co‐culture conditions showed better meniscus ECM production and hypertrophic inhibition as compared to MSC culture alone. The collagen fiber bundles observed in the co‐cultures are important to produce heterogenic ECM structure of meniscus. In conclusion, co‐culturing MC and MSC is a feasible and efficient approach to engineer meniscus tissue with enhanced ECM production without hypertrophy. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012;109: 2369–2380. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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“…In the radially middle and outer regions, collagen II, aggrecan and other quantitatively minor ECM components are concentrated in the tie sheaths and the matrix compartment surrounding the primary circumferential collagen bundles [3, 6], producing a highly heterogeneous matrix architecture at the mesoscale. The cells are also spatially heterogeneous, with gradual radial variations in cell morphology [7] and gene expression profiles [8] from rounded, chondrocyte-like cells in the inner region to spread, fibroblast-like cells in the outer region. Disruption of this structure due to traumatic injury or age-related degradation may lead to altered joint biomechanics and the onset of osteoarthritis [9] but, like articular cartilage, meniscal fibrocartilage has a poor intrinsic repair capacity due to its limited vascularity [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in chondrogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in fibrin/alginate blended hydrogels

Titan

Stafford

et al. 2012

Acta Biomaterialia

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Fibrin and alginate hydrogels have been widely used to support chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) for articular cartilage and fibrocartilage tissue engineering, with distinct advantages and disadvantages to each material. Attempting to produce a gel scaffold exhibiting beneficial characteristics of both materials, we fabricated fibrin/alginate blended hydrogels at various blend ratios and evaluated the gel morphology, mechanical properties and their support for BM-MSC chondrogenesis. Results show that when the fibrin/alginate ratio decreased, the fibrin architecture transitioned from uniform to interconnected fibrous and finally to disconnected islands against an alginate background, with opposing trends in the alginate architecture. Fibrin maintained gel extensibility and promoted cell proliferation, while alginate improved the gel biostability and better supported glycosaminoglycan and collagen II production and chondrogenic gene expression. Blended gels had physical and biological characteristics intermediate between fibrin and alginate. Of the blends examined, FA 40:8 (40 mg/mL fibrinogen blended with 8 mg/mL alginate) was found to be the most appropriate group for future studies on tension-driven BM-MSC fibrochondrogenesis. As BM-MSC differentiation appeared to vary between fibrin and alginate regions of blended scaffolds, this study also highlighted the potential to develop spatially heterogeneous tissues through manipulating the heterogeneity of scaffold composition.

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The cells of the rabbit meniscus: their arrangement, interrelationship, morphological variations and cytoarchitecture

Cited by 141 publications

References 28 publications

The knee meniscus: Structure–function, pathophysiology, current repair techniques, and prospects for regeneration

The knee meniscus: Structure–function, pathophysiology, current repair techniques, and prospects for regeneration

Structured three‐dimensional co‐culture of mesenchymal stem cells with meniscus cells promotes meniscal phenotype without hypertrophy

Variations in chondrogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in fibrin/alginate blended hydrogels

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