Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2018, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (28): 4457-4462.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.0837

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase expression and chondrocyte migration in adult minced articular cartilage

Dai Zhu1, Peng Jia-bin1, 2, Liao Ying1, Fu De-hong1, Lei Yun-liang1, Li Zhou1   

  1. 1First Ward of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan Province, China; 2Fifth Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhuhai Branch, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2018-01-26 Online:2018-10-08 Published:2018-10-08
  • Contact: Peng Jia-bin, Master, Physician, First Ward of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan Province, China; Fifth Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhuhai Branch, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Dai Zhu, M.D., Associate chief physician, First Ward of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81501886; the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, No. 2015JJ3102

PDF

247

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Minced articular cartilage has been shown to be helpful for cartilage repair, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the association of expression level of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) with chondrocyte migration, and to further research the underlying mechanism.
METHODS: Massive cartilage (5 mm of diameter, and 2 mm of thickness) and articular cartilage fragments (about 1 mm3) were obtained from 78 adult rabbit keen joints under sterile condition, and then planted into fibrin glue-gelatin sponge composite scaffolds. Group A: cartilage fragments cultured in vitro with normal culture medium; group B: monoblock cartilage cultured in vitro with normal culture medium; group C: cartilage fragments cultured in vitro with culture medium containing inhibitor of MT1-MMP (NSC402050). The specimens were taken out respectively from each group after culture for 2, 4 and 6 weeks, for observing the chondrocyte migration under confocal laser scanning microscope, hematoxylin-eosin staining and histological semi-quantitative scoring. The expression level of MT1-MMP was detected by immunohistochemistry in the groups A and B, and the percentage of cells positive for MT1-MMP was calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Laser confocal microscope results showed that chondrocytes gathered at the margin of tissue after 2 and 4 weeks of in vitro culture in the groups A and B, especially the group A, and at the same time, there were numerous chondrocytes. Group C showed no chondrocyte gathered at the margin of tissue and there was no cell release. Semi-quantitative score and the percentage of cells positive for MT1-MMP in the groups A and B were increased with time in vitro, and the scores and MT1-MMP positive cells in the group A were higher than those in the group B. The semi-quantitative score in the group C was closed to 0. These results suggest that the minced articular cartilage can promote cartilage repair via up-regulating the expression level of MT1-MMP and increasing the migration of chondrocytes.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

Key words: Joints, Chondrocytes, Cell Movement, Matrix Metalloproteinases, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number: