title: Genetically modified chondrocytes expressing TGF-β1: a revolutionary treatment for articular cartilage damage?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, joint arthroplasty remains the only definitive management of osteoarthritis, while other treatment modalities only provide temporary and symptomatic relief. The use of genetically engineered chondrocytes is currently undergoing clinical trials. Specifically, it has been designed to induce cartilage growth and differentiation in patients with degenerative arthritis, with the aim to play a curative role in the disease process.
  
  
  METHODS
  This treatment involves the incorporation of TGF-β1, which has been determined to play an influential role in chondrogenesis and extracellular matrix synthesis. Using genetic manipulation and viral transduction, TGF-β1 is incorporated into human chondrocytes and administered in a minimally invasive fashion directly to the affected joint. Following a database literature search, we evaluated the current evidence on this product and its outcomes. Furthermore, we also briefly reviewed other treatments developed for chondrogenesis and cartilage regeneration for comparison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This treatment method has sustained positive effects on functional outcomes and cartilage growth in initial trials. It allows administration in a minimally invasive manner that does not require extended recovery time. Although several treatment modalities are currently under investigation and appear promising, we hope that these effects can be sustained in further studies. Ultimately, we anticipate that the results may be reproducible in many clinical settings and allow us to effectively treat cartilage damage in patients with degenerative arthritis.
authors: Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement , 2401 West Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215 , USA +1 410 601 8500 ; +1 410 601 8501 ; mmont@lifebridgehealth.org ; rhondamont@aol.com.
authors: Randa K
authors: RK
authors: Elmallah
authors: Jeffrey J
authors: JJ
authors: Cherian
authors: Julio J
authors: JJ
authors: Jauregui
authors: Todd P
authors: TP
authors: Pierce
authors: Walter B
authors: WB
authors: Beaver
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Mont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: TGF-β; cartilage regeneration; chondrogenesis; osteoarthritis