Bioengineered human tissue regeneration and repair using endogenous stem cells

Jiao Wei; Daniel T Baptista-Hon; Zi Wang; Gen Li; Tanja Herrler; Chuanchang Dai; Kai Liu; Baofu Yu; Xiaoxue Chen; Mei Yang; Dong Han; Yuanxu Gao; Ru-Lin Huang; Lifei Guo; Kang Zhang; Qingfeng Li

doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101156

Bioengineered human tissue regeneration and repair using endogenous stem cells

Cell Rep Med. 2023 Aug 15;4(8):101156. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101156.

Authors

Jiao Wei¹, Daniel T Baptista-Hon², Zi Wang¹, Gen Li³, Tanja Herrler⁴, Chuanchang Dai¹, Kai Liu¹, Baofu Yu¹, Xiaoxue Chen¹, Mei Yang⁵, Dong Han¹, Yuanxu Gao⁶, Ru-Lin Huang¹, Lifei Guo⁷, Kang Zhang⁸, Qingfeng Li⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
² University Hospital and Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa 999078, Macau, China; Zhuhai International Eye Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China; Department of Bioinformatics and AI, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China; School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
³ Department of Bioinformatics and AI, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Hand Surgery, Trauma Center Murnau, 82418 Murnau, Germany.
⁵ Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
⁶ University Hospital and Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa 999078, Macau, China.
⁷ Division of Plastic Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, VT 01808, USA. Electronic address: lifei.guo@lahey.org.
⁸ University Hospital and Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa 999078, Macau, China; Zhuhai International Eye Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China; Department of Bioinformatics and AI, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: kang.zhang@gmail.com.
⁹ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China. Electronic address: dr.liqingfeng@shsmu.edu.cn.

Abstract

We describe a general approach to produce bone and cartilaginous structures utilizing the self-regenerative capacity of the intercostal rib space to treat a deformed metacarpophalangeal joint and microtia. Anatomically precise 3D molds were positioned on the perichondro-periosteal or perichondral flap of the intercostal rib without any other exogenous elements. We find anatomically precise metacarpal head and auricle constructs within the implanted molds after 6 months. The regenerated metacarpal head was used successfully to surgically repair the deformed metacarpophalangeal joint. Auricle reconstructive surgery in five unilateral microtia patients yielded good aesthetic and functional results. Long-term follow-up revealed the auricle constructs were safe and stable. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveal early infiltration of a cell population consistent with mesenchymal stem cells, followed by IL-8-stimulated differentiation into chondrocytes. Our results demonstrate the repair and regeneration of tissues using only endogenous factors and a viable treatment strategy for bone and tissue structural defects.

Keywords: auricular reconstruction; cartilage regeneration; endogenous stem cells; joint reconstruction; regeneration medicine; tissue regeneration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chondrocytes
Congenital Microtia* / therapy
Ear Cartilage / surgery
Humans
Mesenchymal Stem Cells*
Tissue Engineering / methods