Clinical application of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering

The purpose of this paper is to review the basic science and clinical literature on scaffolds clinically available for the treatment of articular cartilage injuries. The use of tissue-engineered grafts based on scaffolds seems to be as effective as conventional ACI clinically. However, there is limited evidence that scaffold techniques result in homogeneous distribution of cells. Similarly, few studies exist on the maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype in scaffolds. Both of which would be potential advantages over the first generation ACI. The mean clinical score in all of the clinical literature on scaffold techniques significantly improved compared with preoperative values. More than 80% of patients had an excellent or good outcome. None of the short- or mid-term clinical and histological results of these tissue-engineering techniques with scaffolds were reported to be better than conventional ACI. However, some studies suggest that these methods may reduce surgical time, morbidity, and risks of periosteal hypertrophy and post-operative adhesions. Based on the available literature, we were not able to rank the scaffolds available for clinical use. Firm recommendations on which cartilage repair procedure is to be preferred is currently not known on the basis of these studies. Randomized clinical trials and longer follow-up periods are needed for more widespread information regarding the clinical effectiveness of scaffold-based, tissue-engineered cartilage repair

Differential effects of IGF-1 and TGFß-2 on the assembly of proteoglycans in pericellular and territorial matrix by cultured bovene articular chondrocytes

AbstractObjectives: Knowledge of matrix assembly is necessary to understand the pathogenesis of disease processes and to find solutions for repair of articular cartilage lesions. The influence of growth factors on matrix assembly is largely unknown. We investigated whether, and to what degree, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor β-2 (TGFβ-2) influence proteoglycan synthesis and accumulation in the cell-associated matrix compartment (consisting of pericellular and territorial matrix) compared to the further-removed matrix compartment (consisting of the interterritorial matrix).Design: Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured in alginate beads for day 13. The effect of addition of 25 ng/ml IGF-1 or 25 ng/ml TGFβ-2 during the last 7 days in culture was determined. Cell-associated and further-removed matrix compartments were separated by centrifugation after sodium citrate/EDTA treatment. The amount of DNA, the total amount of proteoglycans and the amount of newly synthesized proteoglycans were analyzed biochemically. Morphometric analysis on electron micrographs was used to calculate the volumes of the cell-associated and further-removed matrix components.Results: It was demonstrated in control beads that 25±8% of the proteoglycans were laid down in the cell-associated matrix compartment compared with 75±8% in the further-removed matrix compartment. The cell-associated matrix compartment in intact beads could be recognized in electron microscopy by a delineation of dense amorph material. Morphometric evaluation showed a relative volume of the cell-associated matrix compartment of 5.2±0.6% compared with 91.3±0.8% of the further-removed matrix compartment and 3.5±0.3% of the area occupied by cells. Combination of biochemical and morphometric results showed that the concentration of proteoglycans in the cell-associated matrix compartment was 3.63±0.32 mg/ml. By adding IGF-1 or TGFβ-2, the amount of both total accumulated proteoglycans and newly synthesized [35S]proteoglycans at day 13 in culture increased. In addition to an overall rise in proteoglycan content, IGF-1 significantly increased (24%) the percentage of proteoglycans laid down in the cell-associated matrix compartment while not changing the relative volume of this compartment (5.2±0.8%). This leads to a 82% (P<0.05) increase in the proteoglycan concentration in the cell-associated matrix compartment compared to control beads. In contrast, TGFβ-2 significantly decreased (24%) the relative amount of proteoglycans in the cell-associated matrix compartment which was paralleled by a reduction of the relative volume from 5.2±0.6 to 3.6±1.4%. This leads to a significant increase of 87% of the proteoglycan concentration in the cell-association matrix compartment.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that both IGF-1 and TGFβ-2 significantly but differently influence proteoglycan synthesis and accumulation in the cell-associated matrix compartment of cultured bovine chondrocytes in alginate. Both growth factors increase the concentration of proteoglycans in the cell-associated matrix compartment. However, addition of TGFβ-2 to bovine articular chondrocytes cultured in alginate beads for 13 days results in a significant reduction of the relative volume of the pericellular matrix compartment compared to controls, indicating differences in assembly of the matrix

Follicle-forming cat thyroid cell lines synthesizing extracellular matrix and basal membrane components: a new tool for the study of thyroidal morphogenesis

Interactions between follicular epithelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) are supposed to play an important role in the development and maintenance of thyroid tissue architecture. In the present study we have therefore investigated the synthesis of ECM components by a feline thyroid cell line which is able to form follicle-like structures in vitro, and also in v-ras-transfected and control-transfected sublines. Transfections were performed by lipofection with pZSR (viral Harvey ras gene; neo) and pSV2-neo (control, neo only) plasmids. We have adapted a semisolid culture system composed exclusively of polymerized alginate and therefore devoid of ECM components. Feline cells embedded in alginate gels as single cells and cultured for up to 90 days formed cell clusters within 10 days. Follicle-like structures were formed in the original cell lines and also in the v-ras- and control-transfected cells. Differences in proliferation rates were observed, the v-ras-transfected cells growing up to two to three times faster than the non-transfected cells. Immunostaining was done using rabbit first antibodies directed against mouse collagen IV, human fibronectin, laminin (tumor Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm laminin), perlecan and other ECM components. For comparison, immunostaining was also performed on cryosections of nodular goiters of six hyperthyroid cats. The cell lines and their transfected clones stained strongly positive for collagen IV and fibronectin, and positively but less strongly for laminin and perlecan. The cat goiter tissue stained positively for collagen IV, laminin, perlecan, and fibronectin, and positive staining for S-laminin (containing the beta2-chain) was seen in blood vessel walls in this tissue. In conclusion, cat cell lines grow three-dimensionally in alginate beads over several weeks, they form follicle-like structures and express the same ECM components as the native cat goiter tissue. Transfection with v-ras does increase proliferation rate, but does not fundamentally alter formation of follicle-like structures and ECM expression. Alginate gel culture is a promising new tool for the study of follicular morphogenesis, polarity, the expression pattern of ECM components and of the interaction between thyrocytes and ECM. It avoids interference caused by gels composed of ECM components