Xenotransplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells for repair of osteochondral defects in rabbits using osteochondral biphasic composite constructs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of non-autologous transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with or without differentiation for the regeneration of osteochondral defects in rabbits using a biphasic composite construct composed of platelet-rich fibrin glue (PR-FG) and hydroxyapatite.


METHODS
After isolation and culture, hMSCs were seeded on biphasic composite constructs (hydroxyapatite + PR-FG) and transplanted into osteochondral defects of adult New Zealand white rabbits. Treatment of individual defects was applied by random assignment to one of five groups: (1) control, defects untreated; (2) hydroxyapatite, defects filled with hydroxyapatite only; (3) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG, defects filled with a composite of hydroxyapatite and PR-FG; (4) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + undifferentiated hMSCs; and (5) hydroxyapatite + PR-FG + differentiated hMSCs. Rabbits were killed at 4 or 8 weeks post-surgery, at which time osteochondral repair was macroscopically and histologically evaluated and scored using the modified International Cartilage Repair Society scoring system.


RESULTS
The group in which defects were seeded with differentiated hMSCs (group 5) showed superior healing of osteochondral defects based on macroscopic and histological observations compared to other groups. Specifically, 8 weeks after implantation, defects were filled with more hyaline-like cartilage and were better integrated with the surrounding native cartilage. The histological scores were significantly better than those of other groups (16.3 at 8 weeks, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Xenogeneic transplantation of differentiated hMSCs using a biphasic composite construct effectively repaired osteochondral defect in a rabbit model. Differentiated hMSCs showed superior healing of chondral lesion to undifferentiated hMSCs.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-Dong, Kangnam-Gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea, kimo98@hanmail.net.
Ki-Mo
KM
Jang
Ju-Han
JH
Lee
Chan Mi
CM
Park
Hae-Ryong
HR
Song
Joon Ho
JH
Wang
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017886:Durapatite / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014945:Wound Healing
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D017886:Durapatite