title: Effects of hepatocyte growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor on the repair of meniscal defects in vitro.
abstract: Injuries to the avascular region of the meniscus occur frequently and may be difficult to repair. This study was designed to determine whether growth factors could diffuse from a collagen sponge or a collagen gel into meniscal tissue and stimulate healing of defects using an in vitro model. The diffusion of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) from the collagen carriers into the medium was rapid with approximately 50% being released from the collagen sponge within the first hour. After 5 d of incubation, 8% of the PDGF was present in the meniscus, 11% in the collagen sponge, and 62% had been released into the medium. Similar results were obtained when a collagen gel was used as a carrier. Histological evaluation of the meniscal explants after 2 wk in culture revealed extensive proteoglycan staining in the areas surrounding defects treated with either hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or PDGF compared with controls without growth factor. The HGF-PDGF treatment resulted in alignment and migration of meniscal cells toward the defect, which was not observed in untreated controls. At 3-7 d, increased number of cells were observed in defects treated with collagen gels (but not the sponge) with PDGF-HGF. At 4 wk, combined HGF-PDGF treatment resulted in the formation of tissue with birefringence by polarized microscopy, suggestive of organized collagen. The data suggest that use of specific PDGF-HGF may enhance the repair of meniscal injuries.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Soft Tissue Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, New York 10021, USA. bhargavam@hss.edu
authors.forename: Madhu M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: Chisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Jo A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hannafin
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.forename: Russell F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen; D004058:Diffusion; D004285:Dogs; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005782:Gels; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen