Cartilage repair and inhibition of the progression of cartilage degeneration after transplantation of allogeneic chondrocyte sheets in a nontraumatic early arthritis model

Naoki Takatori; Masato Sato; Eriko Toyoda; Takumi Takahashi; Eri Okada; Miki Maehara; Masahiko Watanabe

doi:10.1016/j.reth.2018.07.003

Cartilage repair and inhibition of the progression of cartilage degeneration after transplantation of allogeneic chondrocyte sheets in a nontraumatic early arthritis model

Regen Ther. 2018 Aug 24:9:24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.reth.2018.07.003. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Authors

Naoki Takatori¹, Masato Sato¹, Eriko Toyoda¹, Takumi Takahashi¹, Eri Okada¹, Miki Maehara¹, Masahiko Watanabe¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.

Abstract

Introduction: Using a rat model of nontraumatic early arthritis induced by intra-articular administration of low-dose monoiodoacetic acid (MIA), we transplanted allogeneic chondrocyte sheets and examined the effects on tissue repair.

Methods: MIA (0.2 mg/50 μl) was injected into the right knee of 20 male Wistar rats. Four weeks later, rats were randomly allocated into three groups: Group A was examined 4 weeks after administration of MIA; Group B, 8 weeks after MIA injection and chondrocyte sheet transplantation, and Group C, 8 weeks after MIA injection but without chondrocyte sheet transplantation. Allogeneic chondrocyte sheets were transplanted into the right knee of Group B rats. Pain was assessed as the weight distribution ratio of the damaged to undamaged limb. The OARSI score was used for histological scoring.

Results: The limb weight distribution ratio indicated significantly less pain in Group B. Histological scoring showed significant differences in cartilage repair and inhibition of the progression of cartilage degeneration between Groups B and C, but not between Groups A and B, or Groups A and C.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in this rat model of nontraumatic early arthritis induced by low-dose MIA injection, allogeneic chondrocyte sheet transplantation induces cartilage repair and suppresses cartilage degeneration.

Keywords: AB, Antibiotic-antimycotic solution; Acan, Aggrecan; Chondrocyte sheet; Col1A1, Collagen type Ⅰalpha 1; Col2A1, Collagen type Ⅱalpha 1; Comp, Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; DPBS, Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; FBS, Fetal bovine serum; IFP, Infrapatellar fat pad; ITGa10, Integrin alpha-10; MIA, Monoiodoacetic acid; Mmp13, Matrix metalloproteinase-13; Monoiodoacetic acid (MIA); OA, Osteoarthritis; OARSI score; OARSI, Osteoarthritis research society international; Osteoarthritis; PVDF, Polyvinylidene difluoride; Transplantation; qPCR, Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.