title: Prospective evaluation of serum biomarker levels and cartilage repair by autologous chondrocyte transplantation and subchondral drilling in a canine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels and the capability of cartilage repair of full-thickness cartilage defects after treatment with two different fundamental surgical techniques: autologous chondrocyte transplantation (AC) and subchondral drilling (SD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4-mm-diameter full-thickness cartilage defect was created in each of 10 skeletally mature male outbred dogs. The dogs were randomly separated into two groups. Groups A and B were treated with AC and SD, respectively. An evaluation was made at the 24th week of the experiment. Serum was analyzed prospectively--preoperatively and at 6-week intervals--for CS and HA levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISA-based assays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cartilage repair assessment score (median +/- standard deviation) of group A (9.5 +/- 2.5) was significantly higher than that of group B (2.5 +/- 1.3) (P < 0.05). Group A also demonstrated a better quality of hyaline-like cartilage repair. Prospective analysis of serum WF6 and HA levels between the two groups did not show any significant difference. Serum WF6 levels at the 24th week of the experiment had a negative correlation (r = -0.69, P < 0.05) with the cartilage repair assessment score, whereas serum HA levels tended to correlate positively (r = 0.46, 0.1 <P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AC treatment provides superior results to SD treatment, according to morphology, histology, and cartilage marker levels. AC treatment demonstrated a smoother surface, less fissure, better border integration, and a more reliable outcome of repairing cartilage. Moreover, a decreasing level of serum WF6, which correlated with good quality of the repairing tissue at the end of the follow-up period, was found predominantly in the AC group. Serum WF6 therefore should be further explored as a sensitive marker for the noninvasive therapeutic evaluation of cartilage repair procedures.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Bioscience and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. korakot@chiangmai.ac.th
authors.forename: Korakot
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nganvongpanit
authors.forename: Peraphan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pothacharoen
authors.forename: Patama
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaochird
authors.forename: Kasisin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klunklin
authors.forename: Kanawee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warrit
authors.forename: Jongkolnee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Settakorn
authors.forename: Nuttaya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pattamapaspong
authors.forename: Sirichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luevitoonvechkij
authors.forename: Olarn
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arpornchayanon
authors.forename: Prachya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongtawelert
authors.forename: Dumnoensun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pruksakorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054544:Arthroplasty, Subchondral / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates