SC Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2011 Apr-Jun;25(2 Suppl):S53-62.
Association of biomaterials with autologous cells can provide a new generation of implantable devices for cartilage repair. An ideal scaffold should possess a preformed three-dimensional shape, fix the cells to the damaged area and prevent their migration into the articular cavity. Furthermore, the constructs should have sufficient mechanical strength to facilitate handling in a clinical setting and stimulate the uniform spreading of cells and a phenotype re-differentiation process. The aim of this study was to verify the ability of an equine collagen membrane to support the growth of human chondrocytes and to allow the re-expression of their original phenotype. This ability was assessed by the evaluation of collagen type I, II and aggrecan mRNA expression by Real-Time PCR. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate collagen type I, II and proteoglycans synthesis. Electron microscopy was utilized to highlight the structure of the biomaterial and its interactions with the cells. Our data indicate that human chondrocytes seeded onto a collagen membrane express and produce collagen type II and aggrecan and downregulate the production of collagen type I during the experimental times analyzed. These results provide an in vitro demonstration for the therapeutic potential of autologous chondrocyte transplantation by an equine collagen membrane as a delivery vehicle in a tissue-engineered approach towards the repair of articular cartilage defects.
生物材料与自体细胞的结合可以为软骨修复提供新一代的植入式设备。理想的支架应具有预先形成的三维形状，将细胞固定在受损区域，并防止其迁移到关节腔内。此外，该构建物应具有足够的机械强度，以方便在临床环境中处理，并刺激细胞的均匀扩散和表型再分化过程。本研究旨在验证马胶原膜支持人软骨细胞生长并允许其重新表达其原始表型的能力。通过实时 PCR 评估胶原 I 型、II 型和聚集蛋白聚糖 mRNA 表达来评估这种能力。进行免疫组织化学分析以评估胶原 I 型、II 型和蛋白聚糖的合成。电子显微镜用于突出生物材料的结构及其与细胞的相互作用。我们的数据表明，接种在胶原膜上的人软骨细胞在分析的实验时间内表达和产生 II 型胶原和聚集蛋白聚糖，并下调 I 型胶原的产生。这些结果为自体软骨细胞移植通过马胶原膜作为组织工程方法修复关节软骨缺损的载体的治疗潜力提供了体外证据。
