Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the clinical results of autologous chondrocyte implantation for articular cartilage defects have recently improved as a result of advanced techniques based on tissue engineering procedures, problems with cell handling and scaffold imperfections remain to be solved. A new cell-sheet technique has been developed, and is potentially able to overcome these obstacles. Chondrocyte sheets applicable to cartilage regeneration can be prepared with this cell-sheet technique using temperature-responsive culture dishes. However, for clinical application, it is necessary to evaluate the characteristics of the cells in these sheets and to identify their similarities to naive cartilage.ResultsThe expression of SOX 9, collagen type 2, 27, integrin α10, and fibronectin genes in triple-layered chondrocyte sheets was significantly increased in comparison to those in conventional monolayer culture and in a single chondrocyte sheet, implying a nature similar to ordinary cartilage. In addition, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that collagen type II, fibronectin, and integrin α10 were present in the triple-layered chondrocyte sheets.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that these chondrocyte sheets with a consistent cartilaginous phenotype and adhesive properties may lead to a new strategy for cartilage regeneration.
Highlights
The clinical results of autologous chondrocyte implantation for articular cartilage defects have recently improved as a result of advanced techniques based on tissue engineering procedures, problems with cell handling and scaffold imperfections remain to be solved
The clinical results of Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) have recently improved as a result of advanced techniques based on tissue engineering procedures, problems relating to cell handling and scaffold imperfections remain
Manipulation of chondrocyte sheets Chondrocyte sheets prepared as either cell monolayer sheets or three-layered sheets were obtained by reducing the temperature, with no need for an enzymatic digestion step (Fig. 1)
Summary
The clinical results of autologous chondrocyte implantation for articular cartilage defects have recently improved as a result of advanced techniques based on tissue engineering procedures, problems with cell handling and scaffold imperfections remain to be solved. The functions and properties of fibrocartilage are inferior to hyaline cartilage, and the outcomes at long-term follow-up after these treatments tend to be poor.[2] Mosaicplasty can be used to transplant hyaline cartilage to the damaged area and reports have shown at long-term follow-up that mosaicplasty is beneficial; it has associated donor site morbidity, and only a predetermined defect area can be treated.[5] The clinical results of arthroplasty for severe osteoarthritis have improved with the development of new surgical techniques and the selection of appropriate medical devices. Some scaffolds have been successfully applied for the cartilage regeneration,[7] there are problems with biocompatibility and cellular viability, including cell attachment, distribution and proliferation
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