title: Influence of cryopreservation, cultivation time and patient's age on gene expression in Hyalograft® C cartilage transplants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the impact of cryopreservation, cultivation time and patient's age on the expression of specific chondrogenic markers in Hyalograft® C transplants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene expression of chondrocyte markers [collagen type I (COL1A1), COL2A1, aggrecan, versican, melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) and interleukin (IL)-1β] was analysed in cartilage biopsies (n = 17) and Hyalograft® C transplant samples (non-cryopreserved = 78, cryopreserved = 13) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of the above-named parameters on the level of gene expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryopreservation of cells was found to decrease COL2A1 and MIA significantly (4.6-fold, p < 0.01 and 2-fold, p < 0.045, respectively). The duration of cryopreservation had no further influence on the expression of these factors. No correlation was detected between cultivation time (75 ± 31 days) and the expression level of any gene. Cartilage transplants from older patients (>35 years) exhibited a significantly higher IL-1β expression (3.7-fold, p < 0.039) than transplants from younger patients (≤ 35 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that cryopreservation has a profound impact on chondrocyte metabolic activity by decreasing the expression of COL2A1 and MIA in Hyalograft® C transplants, independent of the duration of cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma-Surgery, Center for Joint and Cartilage, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria, christian.albrecht@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tichy
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nürnberger
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zak
authors.forename: Markus Johannes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Handl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marlovits
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aldrian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C090059:MIA protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D053675:Versicans