Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Allograft cartilage transplantation is the primary means of treatment of articular cartilage defects. It is a clinical key technical issue to reduce the immunogenicity of the cartilage transplant by looking for cartilage tissue preservation methods.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact on the immunogenicity of allogeneic cartilage graft stored by slow cooling gradient store method, vitrification and 60Co-irradiation with cooling gradient store method.
METHODS: The fresh cartilages were randomly divided into four groups: fresh group did not take any measures; slow cooling group were given procedural temperature gradient to preserve articular cartilage; vitrification group preserved articular cartilage by glass vitrification solution; 60Co-irradiation with cooling gradient group were given 60Co-ray to irradiate, then we saved articular cartilage by procedural temperature gradient. Chondrocyte was separated and cultured in vitro and made cell suspension at 8, 15, 30, and 60 days after preservation. The expression rate of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)Ⅰand Ⅱwas measured by flow cytometry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After preservation, the rate of MHCⅠ and MHCⅡantigen expression on chondrocyte surface was significantly decreased in slow cooling, vitrification, and 60Co-irradiation with cooling gradient groups. There were significant differences comparing with fresh group, but there were no significant differences among each experimental group. After preservation, the rate of MHC-Ⅰand MHC-Ⅱantigen expression on chondrocyte surface reduced to a minimum at 30 days after preservation. So, treatment by the preservation of articular cartilage may improve success rate of bone allograft cartilage transplantation.