title: A Human Amnion-Derived Extracellular Matrix-Coated Cell-Free Scaffold for Cartilage Repair: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from human amniotic mesenchymal cells (HAMs) has various biological activities. In this study, we developed a novel HAM-derived ECM-coated polylactic-co-glycolic acid (ECM-PLGA) scaffold, examined its property on mesenchymal cells, and investigated its potential as a cell-free scaffold for cartilage repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECM-PLGA scaffolds were developed by inoculating HAM on a PLGA. After decellularization by irradiation, accumulated ECM was examined. Exogenous cell growth and differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the ECM-PLGA were analyzed in vitro by cell attachment/proliferation assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The cell-free ECM-PLGA scaffolds were implanted into osteochondral defects in the trochlear groove of rat knees. After 4, 12, or 24 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the harvested tissues were examined histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ECM-PLGA contained ECM that mimicked natural amniotic stroma that contains type I collagen, fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfates. The ECM-PLGA showed excellent properties of cell attachment and proliferation. MSCs inoculated on the ECM-PLGA scaffold showed accelerated type II collagen mRNA expression after 3 weeks in culture. The ECM-PLGA implanted into an osteochondral defect in rat knees induced gradual tissue regeneration and resulted in hyaline cartilage repair, which was better than that in the empty control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These in vitro and in vivo experiments show that the cell-free scaffold composed of HAM-derived ECM and PLGA provides a favorable growth environment for MSCs and facilitates the cartilage repair process. The ECM-PLGA may become a "ready-made" biomaterial for cartilage repair therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogami
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Tomoatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koike-Soko
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Hiraku
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motomura
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gejo
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama , Toyama, Japan .
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikaido
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011923:Rats, Nude; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid