Abstract:

BACKGROUND: After embedded on scaffold materials and implanted into articular cartilage defects, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cannot disappear and may form new cartilages.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate intra-articular chondrogenic activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with allogenic demineralized bone matrix.
METHODS: Models of full-thickness articular cartilage defects of the knee were prepared in 54 rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-allogeneic demineralized bone matrix complex was implanted into articular cartilage defects in the knee of rabbits in the experimental group; allogeneic demineralized bone matrix was implanted in the control group; no intervention in blank control group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 12 weeks after transplantation, repaired tissues represented hyaline-like, smoothness and flat, the chondrocytes integrated with the surrounding cartilage were more mature, and the repaired tissues were integrated with subchondral bones firmly in the experimental group. Cells in the repaired tissues demonstrated hyaline cartilage-like and arranged columnedly, which were positive for type Ⅱ collagen and integrated satisfactorily with native adjacent cartilages and subchondral bones. Histological scores of the experimental group were better than those of the control group and the blank control group (P < 0.01). In the control group, the repaired tissues showed fibroid, and were not integrated with peripheral cartilages. In the blank control group, the repaired tissues were not observed. There was no positive type Ⅱ collagen expressed in both control groups. Those outcomes indicate cartilage-like tissues can form and articular cartilage defects can be repaired effectively after bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with allogeneic demineralized bone matrix were implanted into the knee joints.