title: In vitro synthesis and characterization of a cartilaginous meniscus grown from isolated temporomandibular chondroprogenitor cells.
abstract: Internal derangement of the temporomandibularjoint can lead to perforation of the intra-articular meniscus and osteoarthritic degeneration. Current methods of repairing damaged menisci are limited by lack of biological compatibility of graft materials. This project aimed to synthesise and characterise a primate cartilaginous meniscus in vitro from harvested mandibular chondroprogenitor cells. Isolated cells from the mandibular cartilage of 12 young adult marmosets, aged 9-12 months, were grown in monolayer culture. After 21 days confluent colonies were resuspended and dispersed into a unpolymerised solution of type I collagen and fibrinogen. The resultant cell suspension was infiltrated into a resorbable type I collagen sponge carrier and allowed to polymerise. Aliquots of the cell-infiltrated sponge were maintained in organ culture for a further 14 days. Cultures were characterised using histochemical and immunocytochemical localisation of collagen and proteoglycan species. Two-thirds of cells in confluent 21-day monolayers expressed cartilage-specific type II collagen and chondroitin-4-sulphate. After 35 days organ cultures had formed a viable, organised, three-dimensional tissue mass consisting of mature chondrocytic cells interspersed in a dense cartilaginous matrix. The cartilaginous tissue generated in vitro may have potential application in the repair or replacement of damaged menisci in vivo.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle Dental School & Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Girdler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002144:Callithrix; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen