title: Repair of meniscal cartilage white zone tears using a stem cell/collagen-scaffold implant.
abstract: Injuries to the avascular region of knee meniscal cartilage do not heal spontaneously. To address this problem we have developed a new stem cell/collagen-scaffold implant system in which human adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are seeded onto a biodegradable scaffold that allows controlled delivery of actively dividing cells to the meniscus surface. Sandwich constructs of two white zone ovine meniscus discs with stem cell/collagen-scaffold implant in between were cultured in vitro for 40 days. Histomorphometric analysis revealed superior integration in the stem cell/collagen-scaffold groups compared to the cell-free collagen membrane or untreated controls. The addition of TGF-beta1 to differentiate stem cells to chondrocytes inhibited integration. Biomechanical testing demonstrated a significant 2-fold increase in tensile strength in all constructs using the stem cell/collagen-scaffold compared to control groups after 40 days in culture. Integration was significantly higher when collagen membranes were used that had a more open/spongy structure adjacent to both meniscal cartilage surfaces, whereas a collagen scaffold designed for osteoinduction failed to induce any integration of meniscus. In conclusion, the stem cell/collagen-scaffold implant is a potential therapeutic treatment for the repair of white zone meniscal cartilage tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science at North Bristol, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Moreica B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pabbruwe
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kafienah
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tarlton
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hollander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D003094:Collagen