Injectable gellan gum hydrogels with autologous cells for the treatment of rabbit articular cartilage defects.
In this work, the ability of gellan gum hydrogels coupled with autologous cells to regenerate rabbit full-thickness articular cartilage defects was tested. Five study groups were defined: (a) gellan gum with encapsulated chondrogenic predifferentiated rabbit adipose stem cells (ASC + GF); (b) gellan gum with encapsulated nonchondrogenic predifferentiated rabbit adipose stem cells (ASC); (c) gellan gum with encapsulated rabbit articular chondrocytes (AC) (standard control); (d) gellan gum alone (control); (e) empty defect (control). Full-thickness articular cartilage defects were created and the gellan gum constructs were injected and left for 8 weeks. The macroscopic aspect of the explants showed a progressive increase of similarity with the lateral native cartilage, stable integration at the defect site, more pronouncedly in the cell-loaded constructs. Tissue scoring showed that ASC + GF exhibited the best results regarding tissue quality progression. Alcian blue retrieved similar results with a better outcome for the cell-loaded constructs. Regarding real-time PCR analyses, ASC + GF had the best progression with an upregulation of collagen type II and aggrecan, and a downregulation of collagen type I. Gellan gum hydrogels combined with autologous cells constitute a promising approach for the treatment of articular cartilage defects, and adipose derived cells may constitute a valid alternative to currently used articular chondrocytes.
Oliveira
João T
JT
3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, S. Cláudio do Barco, 4806-909 Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal. joao.oliveira@dep.uminho.pt
Gardel
Leandro S
LS
Rada
Tommaso
T
Martins
Luís
L
Gomes
Manuela E
ME
Reis
Rui L
RL
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D020100:Hydrogels; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C048288:gellan gum