Stem cell repair of physeal cartilage.
To evaluate the ability of cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to repair physeal defects, MSC-matrix constructs with 5% gelatin (group A), 10% gelatin/Gelfoam (Pharmacia, Peapack, NJ) (group B), and MSC grown in the presence of TGF-beta3 with Gelfoam (group C) were implanted in proximal tibial physeal defects created in 20 immature rabbits. Control groups (untreated partial defect and partial defect treated with Gelfoam) showed bony bar formation with varus deformities of 30 degrees and 28 degrees, respectively. Group A had an average 23 degrees varus deformity with bony bridge formation, and group B had mild varus angulation (average 14 degrees) of the proximal tibia. In group C, there was no significant varus deformity (average 9 degrees), and histologic examination showed that some of the columnation areas interspersed with chondrocytes were irregularly arranged in the matrix. These findings suggest that repair of physeal defects can be enhanced by the implantation of MSC cultured with TGF-beta3.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic, 956 Court Avenue, Room A302, Memphis 38104, USA. jiahn1@hanmir.com
Jae I
JI
Ahn
S
S
Terry Canale
Stephanie D
SD
Butler
Karen A
KA
Hasty
D000818:Animals; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013977:Tibia