Co-culture of chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for articular cartilage repair

Chen Gang; Qian Ming-quan; Du Wei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.32.007

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage damage caused by traumatic articular cartilage defects and osteoarthritis is a common clinical disorder, and its treatment is an issue of concern. Tissue engineering provides a new method for articular cartilage repair. But insufficient cartilage cell source is always a thorny issue.OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of repairing articular cartilage defects with tissue-engineered cartilage constructed by co-culture of chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and evaluate the curative efficacy.METHODS: Chondrocytes and BMSCs were isolated from swine articular cartilages, expanded in vitro, mixed after the first passage, and then co-cultured for another passage. The mixed cells were seeded onto a polyglycolic acid/polylactic acid scaffold and, followed by 2 weeks co-culture, then sutured into osteochondral complex. The co-culture tissue-engineered cartilage was transplanted into the defect region. The tissue-engineered cartilage constructed with single chondrocytes served as control group. Those received no intervention as blank control group. Six months later,the gross observation and histological staining were performed, as well as the dying area of collagen type Ⅱ and level of glucosamine polysaccharide were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the co-culture group, the tissues were chondroid with smooth and glossy surface,and well connected with the surrounding tissues. The control group presented with fiber-like tissues, while the blank control group showed no changes. The distribution of cartilaginous extracellular matrice in the co-culture group was more homogenous than the others, and there was a good connection between newly born tissues and the surrounding tissues as well as subchondral bone. Furthermore, the dying area of collagen type II and level of glucosamine polysaccharide in the co-culture group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). To conclude, the co-culture of chondrocytes and BMSCs can improve the quality of tissue-engineered cartilage, which effectively contributes to the repair of articular cartilage.