Passaged adult chondrocytes can form engineered cartilage with functional mechanical properties: a canine model.
It was hypothesized that previously optimized serum-free culture conditions for juvenile bovine chondrocytes could be adapted to generate engineered cartilage with physiologic mechanical properties in a preclinical, adult canine model. Primary or passaged (using growth factors) adult chondrocytes from three adult dogs were encapsulated in agarose, and cultured in serum-free media with transforming growth factor-beta3. After 28 days in culture, engineered cartilage formed by primary chondrocytes exhibited only small increases in glycosaminoglycan content. However, all passaged chondrocytes on day 28 elaborated a cartilage matrix with compressive properties and glycosaminoglycan content in the range of native adult canine cartilage values. A preliminary biocompatibility study utilizing chondral and osteochondral constructs showed no gross or histological signs of rejection, with all implanted constructs showing excellent integration with surrounding cartilage and subchondral bone. This study demonstrates that adult canine chondrocytes can form a mechanically functional, biocompatible engineered cartilage tissue under optimized culture conditions. The encouraging findings of this work highlight the potential for tissue engineering strategies using adult chondrocytes in the clinical treatment of cartilage defects.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Kenneth W
KW
Ng
Eric G
EG
Lima
Liming
L
Bian
Christopher J
CJ
O'Conor
Prakash S
PS
Jayabalan
Aaron M
AM
Stoker
Keiichi
K
Kuroki
Cristi R
CR
Cook
Gerard A
GA
Ateshian
James L
JL
Cook
Clark T
CT
Hung
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D023421:Models, Animal; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins