title: Transplantation of autologous synovial mesenchymal stem cells promotes meniscus regeneration in aged primates.
abstract: Transplantation of aggregates of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) enhanced meniscus regeneration in rats. Anatomy and biological properties of the meniscus depend on animal species. To apply this technique clinically, it is valuable to investigate the use of animals genetically close to humans. We investigated whether transplantation of aggregates of autologous synovial MSCs promoted meniscal regeneration in aged primates. Chynomolgus primates between 12 and 13 years old were used. After the anterior halves of the medial menisci in both knees were removed, an average of 14 aggregates consisting of 250,000 synovial MSCs were transplanted onto the meniscus defect. No aggregates were transplanted to the opposite knee for the control. Meniscus and articular cartilage were analyzed macroscopically, histologically, and by MRI T1rho mapping at 8 (n = 3) and 16 weeks (n = 4). The medial meniscus was larger and the modified Pauli's histological score for the regenerated meniscus was better in the MSC group than in the control group in each primate at 8 and 16 weeks. Mankin's score for the medial femoral condyle cartilage was better in the MSC group than in the control group in all primates at 16 weeks. T1rho value for both the regenerated meniscus and adjacent articular cartilage in the MSC group was closer to the normal meniscus than in the control group in all primates at 16 weeks. Transplantation of aggregates of autologous synovial MSCs promoted meniscus regeneration and delayed progression of degeneration of articular cartilage in aged primates. This is the first report dealing with meniscus regeneration in primates. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1274-1282, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muneta
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.|Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.affiliation: Department of Cartilage Regeneration, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Cartilage Regeneration, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunikazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Research and Development, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotome
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.affiliation: Yaesu Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.affiliation: Yaesu Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sekiya
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000502:physiology*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D012038:Regeneration; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
keywords: meniscus; mesenchymal stem cells; primate; regeneration; synovium