Jellyfish mucin may have potential disease-modifying effects on osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to study the effects of intra-articular injection of jellyfish mucin (qniumucin) on articular cartilage degeneration in a model of osteoarthritis (OA) created in rabbit knees by resection of the anterior cruciate ligament. Qniumucin was extracted from <it>Aurelia aurita </it>(moon jellyfish) and <it>Stomolophus nomurai </it>(Nomura's jellyfish) and purified by ion exchange chromatography. The OA model used 36 knees in 18 Japanese white rabbits. Purified qniumucin extracts from <it>S. nomurai </it>or <it>A. aurita </it>were used at 1 mg/ml. Rabbits were divided into four groups: a control (C) group injected with saline; a hyaluronic acid (HA)-only group (H group); two qniumucin-only groups (M groups); and two qniumucin + HA groups (MH groups). One milligram of each solution was injected intra-articularly once a week for 5 consecutive weeks, starting from 4 weeks after surgery. Ten weeks after surgery, the articular cartilage was evaluated macroscopically and histologically.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the C and M groups, macroscopic cartilage defects extended to the subchondral bone medially and laterally. When the H and both MH groups were compared, only minor cartilage degeneration was observed in groups treated with qniumucin in contrast to the group without qniumucin. Histologically, densely safranin-O-stained cartilage layers were observed in the H and two MH groups, but cartilage was strongly maintained in both MH groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>At the concentrations of qniumucin used in this study, injection together with HA inhibited articular cartilage degeneration in this model of OA.</p

The properties of bioengineered chondrocyte sheets for cartilage regeneration

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although 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.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 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.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The 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.</p

Characterization of chondrocyte sheets prepared using a co-culture method with temperature- responsive culture inserts

Abstract Conventional culture methods using temperature-responsive culture dishes require 4-5 weeks to prepare layered chondrocyte sheets that can be used in articular cartilage repair and regeneration. This study investigated whether the use of synovial tissue obtained from the same joint as the chondrocyte nutritive supply source could more quickly facilitate the preparation of chondrocyte sheets. After culturing derived synoviocytes and chondrocytes together (i.e. combined culture or co-culture) on temperature-responsive inserts, chondrocyte growth was assessed and a molecular analysis of the chondrocyte sheets was performed. Transplantable tissue could be obtained more quickly using this method (average 10.5 days). Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining of the three-layer chondrocyte sheets confirmed the significant expression of genes critical to cartilage maintenance, including type II collagen (COL2), aggrecan-1 and tissue metallopeptidase inhibitor 1. However, the expression of COL1, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), MMP13 and A-disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 was suppressed. The adhesive factor fibronectin-1 (FN1) was observed in all sheet layers, whereas in sheets generated using conventional preparation methods positive FN1 immunostaining was observed only on the surface of the sheets. The results indicate that synoviocyte co-cultures provide an optimal environment for the preparation of chondrocyte sheets for tissue transplantation and are particularly beneficial for shortening the required culture period

Report of European Activities -Institutes Related to Human Potential in the UK, Netherlands and Germany and the Fifth European Meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration

The authors visited several European institutes carrying out research on anomalous cognition and anomalous perturbation in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany from October 15 to October 29, 2000. The authors also attended the Fifth European Meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration. In Europe, many Ganzfeld experiments has been done, often with an automated system. Each institute has substantial facilities, and recently one English institute has started constructing a directory of researchers and collaborators. European researchers have interests in East Asian studies, e.g. in Japan, China or Korea, therefore the development of a steady information supply from Japan is needed.第11回生命情報科学シンポジウ

Report of European Activities -Institutes Related to Human Potential in the UK, Netherlands and Germany and the Fifth European Meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration

The authors visited several European institutes carrying out research on anomalous cognition and anomalous perturbation in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany from October 15 to October 29, 2000. The authors also attended the Fifth European Meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration. In Europe, many Ganzfeld experiments has been done, often with an automated system. Each institute has substantial facilities, and recently one English institute has started constructing a directory of researchers and collaborators. European researchers have interests in East Asian studies, e.g. in Japan, China or Korea, therefore the development of a steady information supply from Japan is needed

Development of a novel vitrification method for chondrocyte sheets

Background: There is considerable interest in using cell sheets for the treatment of various lesions as part of regenerative medicine therapy. Cell sheets can be prepared in temperature-responsive culture dishes and applied to injured tissue. For example, cartilage-derived cell sheets are currently under preclinical testing for use in treatment of knee cartilage injuries. The additional use of cryopreservation technology could increase the range and practicality of cell sheet therapies. To date, however, cryopreservation of cell sheets has proved impractical. Results: Here we have developed a novel and effective method for cryopreserving fragile chondrocyte sheets. We modified the vitrification method previously developed for cryopreservation of mammalian embryos to vitrify a cell sheet through use of a minimum volume of vitrification solution containing 20% dimethyl sulfoxide, 20% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, and 10% carboxylated poly-L-lysine. The principal feature of our method is the coating of the cell sheet with a viscous vitrification solution containing permeable and non-permeable cryoprotectants prior to vitrification in liquid nitrogen vapor. This method prevented fracturing of the fragile cell sheet even after vitrification and rewarming. Both the macro- and microstructures of the vitrified cell sheets were maintained without damageor loss of major components. Cell survival in the vitrified sheets was comparable to that in non-vitrified samples. Conclusions: We have shown here that it is feasible to vitrify chondrocyte cell sheets and that these sheets retain their normal characteristics upon thawing. The availability of a practical cryopreservation method should make a significant contribution to the effectiveness and range of applications of cell sheet therapy