The properties of bioengineered chondrocyte sheets for cartilage regeneration.
BACKGROUND
Although the clinical results of autologous chondrocyte implantation for articular cartilage defects have recently improved as a result of advanced techniques based on tissue engineering procedures, problems with cell handling and scaffold imperfections remain to be solved. A new cell-sheet technique has been developed, and is potentially able to overcome these obstacles. Chondrocyte sheets applicable to cartilage regeneration can be prepared with this cell-sheet technique using temperature-responsive culture dishes. However, for clinical application, it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics of the cells in these sheets and to identify their similarities to naive cartilage.


RESULTS
The expression of SOX 9, collagen type 2, 27, integrin alpha 10, and fibronectin genes in triple-layered chondrocyte sheets was significantly increased in comparison to those in conventional monolayer culture and in a single chondrocyte sheet, implying a nature similar to ordinary cartilage. In addition, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that collagen type II, fibronectin, and integrin alpha 10 were present in the triple-layered chondrocyte sheets.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that these chondrocyte sheets with a consistent cartilaginous phenotype and adhesive properties may lead to a new strategy for cartilage regeneration.
Mitani
Genya
G
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. genya@syd.odn.ne.jp
Sato
Masato
M
Lee
Jeong I K
JI
Kaneshiro
Nagatoshi
N
Ishihara
Miya
M
Ota
Naoshi
N
Kokubo
Mami
M
Sakai
Hideaki
H
Kikuchi
Tetsutaro
T
Mochida
Joji
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D012038:Regeneration; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D024043:Collagen Type II; D005353:Fibronectins; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; C406210:integrin alpha 10