title: The effects of using vitrified chondrocyte sheets on pain alleviation and articular cartilage repair.
abstract: The effect of using vitrified-thawed chondrocyte sheets on articular cartilage repair was examined because the methods for storing chondrocyte sheets are essential for allogeneic chondrocyte sheet transplantation. Six Japanese white rabbits were used as sources of articular chondrocytes and synovial cells. Chondrocytes were harvested from the femur, and synovial cells were harvested from inside the knee joints. After coculture of the chondrocytes with synovial cells, triple-layered chondrocyte sheets were fabricated. Eighteen rabbits were used, with six rabbits in each of three groups: osteochondral defect only (control, group A); chondrocyte sheets (group B); and vitrified-thawed chondrocyte sheets (group C). An osteochondral defect was created on the femur. After transplantation, the weight distribution ratio of the undamaged and damaged limbs was measured as a pain-alleviating effect. The rabbits were euthanized at 12 weeks, and the transplanted tissues were evaluated for histology (Safranin O staining and immunostaining) using the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system. For both evaluations, significant differences were observed between groups A and B, and between groups A and C (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups B and C. Thus, pain-alleviating effects and tissue repair were achieved using vitrified-thawed chondrocyte sheets. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Engineering, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Tama, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Munetaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamato
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mochida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009929:Organ Size; D010146:Pain / Q000473:pathology*; D059408:Pain Management; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D058989:Vitrification
keywords: cartilage regeneration; chondrocyte sheet; cryopreservation; temperature-responsive culture dish; transplantation; vitrification