title: In vitro healing of avascular meniscal injuries with fresh and frozen plugs treated with TGF-beta1 and IGF-1 in sheep.
abstract: We studied the effect of freezing and inserting meniscal plugs in lesions generated in the avascular area of sheep menisci maintained in vitro, and whether the healing process can be improved by adding growth factors TGF-beta1 and IGF-1. Thirty six menisci obtained from healthy 3 months-old sheep were cultured in 6 well plates and holes were perforated in the avascular area. Meniscal plugs, either fresh or frozen at -20 degrees C for 1 month, were used to fill in the lesions, and then cultured in the presence or absence of TGF-beta1 or IGF-1 for 8 weeks. Samples stained with Massons trichrome were analyzed to evaluate the attachment of the plug and the cell density of the tissue. BrdU immunohistochemistry was performed to identify the proliferation of meniscal cells. Both growth factors improved considerably the cell density of implanted plugs. TGF-beta1 increased significantly the attachment of both fresh and frozen plugs, but it had no effect on meniscal cell proliferation. In contrast, IGF-1 had no effect on the attachment, but did increase significantly the number of proliferating cells in the surface of the host meniscus and the inserted plug. In conclusion, frozen plugs can survive if treated with either TGF-beta1 or IGF-1. The combination of TGF-beta1 and IGF-1 could aid in the repairing of the avascular meniscal injuries, as they are capable of promoting the attachment of tissue, and increasing the proliferation of meniscal cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Navarra Pamplona, Spain. inizal@unav.es
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izal
authors.forename: Purificación
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripalda
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forriol
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 1989 Jan;32(1):66-71
references.pmid: 2912464
references.citation: Instr Course Lect. 2000;49:195-206
references.pmid: 10829175
references.citation: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1997;5(2):124-34
references.pmid: 9228320
references.citation: Biochem J. 1986 Dec 1;240(2):423-30
references.pmid: 3545187
references.citation: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999 Oct;(367 Suppl):S244-53
references.pmid: 10546650
references.citation: Arthroscopy. 1988;4(3):151-9
references.pmid: 3166652
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1986 Jan;68(1):106-10
references.pmid: 3753606
references.citation: J Orthop Res. 2005 Sep;23(5):1184-90
references.pmid: 16140199
references.citation: J Orthop Res. 1988;6(1):1-12
references.pmid: 3334728
references.citation: ANZ J Surg. 2007 Aug;77(8):626-31
references.pmid: 17635273
references.citation: Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2004 Sep;12(9):736-44
references.pmid: 15325640
references.citation: Am J Sports Med. 1989 May-Jun;17(3):393-400
references.pmid: 2729490
references.citation: Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1995 Jun;3(2):127-38
references.pmid: 7584318
references.citation: Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(3):R61
references.pmid: 16563175
references.citation: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990 Mar;(252):8-18
references.pmid: 2406077
references.citation: Am J Sports Med. 1999 Sep-Oct;27(5):636-43
references.pmid: 10496583
references.citation: Tissue Eng. 2007 Sep;13(9):2227-37
references.pmid: 17561802
references.citation: J Surg Res. 1994 Jan;56(1):20-7
references.pmid: 8277764
references.citation: Biomaterials. 2004 Apr;25(9):1523-32
references.pmid: 14697855
references.citation: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Feb;(395):227-33
references.pmid: 11937886
references.citation: Arthroscopy. 1992;8(4):428-36
references.pmid: 1466700
references.citation: J Cell Physiol. 1994 Jan;158(1):169-79
references.pmid: 8263022
references.citation: J Orthop Res. 1988;6(1):13-23
references.pmid: 3334734
references.citation: Am J Vet Res. 1997 Jan;58(1):66-70
references.pmid: 8989499
references.citation: Orthopedics. 2002 Jun;25(6):675-8
references.pmid: 12083579
references.citation: Tissue Eng. 2007 Feb;13(2):271-80
references.pmid: 17504061
references.citation: Arthroscopy. 1998 May-Jun;14(4):360-5
references.pmid: 9620646
references.citation: Arthritis Res Ther. 2007;9(4):R69
references.pmid: 17640365
references.citation: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999 Oct;(367 Suppl):S273-80
references.pmid: 10546652
references.citation: Endocrinology. 1997 Oct;138(10):4390-400
references.pmid: 9322955
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004 Sep;86(7):1077-81
references.pmid: 15446543
references.citation: Wound Repair Regen. 2000 Nov-Dec;8(6):554-61
references.pmid: 11208183
references.citation: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2000;8(2):104-8
references.pmid: 10795673
references.citation: Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2007 Dec;15(4):199-207
references.pmid: 18004219
references.citation: J Orthop Res. 2006 Nov;24(11):2087-94
references.pmid: 16917922