Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have been found in previous studies to have great potential for medical use. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with HA on articular cartilage repair in canines. Twenty-four healthy canines (48 knee-joints), male or female with weight ranging from 5 to 6 kg, were operated on to induce cartilage defect model and divided into 3 groups randomly which received different treatments: BMSCs plus HA (BMSCs-HA), HA alone, and saline. Twenty-eight weeks after treatment, all canines were sacrificed and analyzed by gross appearance, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, toluidine blue staining, type II collagen immunohistochemistry, gross grading scale and histological scores. MSCs plus HA regenerated more cartilage-like tissue than did HA alone or saline. According to the macroscopic evaluation and histological assessment score, treatment with MSCs plus HA also lead to significant improvement in cartilage defects compared to those in the other 2 treatment groups (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that allogeneic BMSCs plus HA rather than HA alone was effective in promoting the formation of cartilage-like tissue for repairing cartilage defect in canines.
Highlights
Articular cartilage is composed of chondrocyte and extracellular matrix and has an important role in joint movement including lubrication, shock absorption and conduction
We assessed the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and Hyaluronic acid (HA) for cartilage defects in a beagle model
Our results showed that both BMSCs plus HA and HA alone could significantly promote neocartilage formation
Summary
Articular cartilage is composed of chondrocyte and extracellular matrix and has an important role in joint movement including lubrication, shock absorption and conduction. Cartilage defects lead to restriction of joint activities, which results in pain and adverse effects on people’s lives, especially for knee articular cartilage patients. Chondroplasty is an alternative method that can relieve pain[3] These treatments have not been found to regenerate new cartilage-like tissue and cartilage defects can progress and develop into more severe cartilage damage[4,5]. Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been used to treat cartilage defects and to promote neocartilage formation in some studies[14,15]. HA can promote cell migration[19,20] and is suggested to be injected every 3 months for knee joint disease[21]. After inducing cartilage defects in canines, the therapeutic effects of injections of BMSCs plus HA, HA alone, and normal saline were compared by assessing gross appearance, evaluating MRI results, and performing histological and immunohistochemical analysis
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