The effects of bone marrow stromal cell transplants on tendon healing in vitro.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on tendon healing in a canine ex vivo model. Bone marrow was harvested and BMSCs were isolated and cultured according to established protocols. Cells were seeded into 0.5mg/ml collagen gels and cultured for 24h to allow gel contraction, and then implanted between the lacerated ends of repaired flexor digitorum profundus tendons. Tendons repaired with a gel patch alone and without a gel patch served as control groups. After 2 and 4 weeks in culture, the repaired tendons were evaluated for breaking strength and stiffness. Cell viability was assessed by labeling the cells with PKH26 red fluorescent cell linker. The maximal strength and stiffness of repaired tendons with the BMSC-seeded patch were significantly higher than the repaired tendons without a patch or with a patch without cells, at both 2 and 4 weeks (p<0.05). Viable BMSC were present between the cut tendon ends at both 2 and 4 weeks. We conclude that BMSC-seeded gel patch transplantation has the potential to enhance flexor tendon healing, and we plan to investigate this effect in vivo.
Zhao
Chunfeng
C
Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Zhao.Chunfeng@mayo.edu
Chieh
Hsiao-Feng
HF
Bakri
Karim
K
Ikeda
Jun
J
Sun
Yu-Long
YL
Moran
Steven L
SL
An
Kai-Nan
KN
Amadio
Peter C
PC
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D008422:Materials Testing; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D003094:Collagen