The influence of transforming growth factor beta1 on mesenchymal cell repair of full-thickness cartilage defects.
To repair full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbit knees, we transplanted periosteal cells in a fibrin gel and determined the influence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in vitro. Alginate served as a temporary supportive matrix component and was removed prior to transplantation. The defects were analyzed macroscopically, histologically, and electron microscopically, and evaluated with a semi-quantitative score system. Periosteal cell transplants showed a chondrogenic differentiation, which results in the development of embryonic-like cartilage tissue after 4 weeks and complete resurfacing of the patellar groove after 12 weeks. In the control groups, no repair was observed. Under the influence of TGF-beta1 we observed a reduction of the cartilage layer, whereas the osteochondral integration and the zonal architecture were improved. Periosteal cell-beads are stable cartilage transplants and have stiffness and elasticity enough for easy and sufficient transplant fixation. Further investigations are necessary to optimize the application of TGF-beta1 for cartilage repair.
Perka
C
C
Department of Orthopaedics Charité University Hospital, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. carsten.perka@charite.de
Schultz
O
O
Spitzer
R S
RS
Lindenhayn
K
K
D000464:Alginates / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005782:Gels / Q000378:metabolism; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007596:Joints / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects; D010521:Periosteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000464:Alginates; D005782:Gels; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1