BackgroundMeniscus injury is highly debilitating and often results in osteoarthritis. Treatment is generally symptomatic, no regenerative treatments are available. Articular chondrocytes with preserved pericellular matrix, ‘chondrons’, produce more hyaline cartilage extracellular matrix and improve cartilage repair. If meniscons exist in the meniscus and have similar therapeutic potential as chondrons, employing these cells has potential for meniscus cell therapy and tissue engineering. In this study, we isolate and culture ‘meniscons’, meniscus cells surrounded by their native pericellular matrix and investigate cell behavior in culture, compared to chondrons, MethodsHuman meniscons were enzymatically isolated from osteoarthritic menisci and cultured up to 28 days in fibrin glue. Freshly isolated meniscons and chondrons were analyzed by histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dichlorotriazinyl aminofluorescein labelling and type VI collagen immunohistochemistry was used to image pericellular matrix after 0 and 28 days of culture. Gene expression was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and DNA content and proteoglycan production were analyzed using biochemical assays. ResultsMeniscons were successfully isolated from human meniscus tissue. The pericellular matrix (PCM) of meniscons and chondrons was preserved during 28 days of culture. Meniscons and chondrons have similar cell proliferation and proteoglycan production. Meniscons and chondrons expressed similar levels of COL1A1, whereas COL2A1 and ACAN expression was lower in the meniscon population. ConclusionsFreshly isolated meniscons as well as meniscons cultured for 28 days share similarities with chondrons with regards to cell proliferation, morphology, and biochemical activity. Rapid isolation of meniscons (45 minutes) demonstrates potential for one-stage meniscus regeneration and repair, which should be confirmed in vivo.