Department for Orthopaedic, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Charité-University of Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
Ann Anat. 2013 Oct;195(5):488-97. doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2013.04.009. Epub 2013 May 10.
Implantation of non-articular (heterotopic) chondrocyte-based implants might be an alternative approach to articular cartilage repair. This strategy could be helpful in cases in which there are no or too few articular chondrocytes available. Therefore, this study was undertaken to compare joint cartilage defect healing in the minipig model after implantation of heterotopic auricular and orthotopic articular chondrocytes. Poly-glycolic acid (PGA) associated three-dimensional (3D) constructs were prepared culturing autologous minipig-derived articular and auricular chondrocytes for 7 days in a dynamic culture system. Chondrocyte PGA constructs were implanted into 8mm diameter and ∼1.1mm deep chondral defects within the medial and lateral condyles of the minipig knee joints. Empty defects served as controls for assessment of the intrinsic healing response. Defect healing was monitored 6 months post implantation using a macroscopic and microscopic score system and biomechanical analysis. Neo-cartilage formation could be observed in the PGA constructs seeded with articular and auricular chondrocytes in vivo. The defect healing did not significantly differ at the macroscopic and histological level in response to implantation of either autologous articular or auricular chondrocytes seeded constructs compared with the empty defects. Although the differences were not significant, the auricular chondrocytes-based implants led to a slightly inferior repair quality at the macroscopic level, but a histologically superior healing response when compared with the empty defect group. However, biomechanical analysis revealed a higher stiffness in repair tissues produced by auricular chondrocyte implantation compared with the other groups. Deduced from these results, articular chondrocytes represent the preferable cell source for implantation.
将非关节（异位）软骨细胞为基础的植入物植入可能是修复关节软骨的一种替代方法。在没有或只有很少的关节软骨细胞的情况下，这种策略可能会有所帮助。因此，本研究旨在比较猪模型中植入异位耳廓和原位关节软骨细胞后关节软骨缺损的愈合情况。聚乙醇酸（PGA）相关的三维（3D）构建体通过在动态培养系统中培养自体猪源性关节和耳廓软骨细胞 7 天来制备。将软骨细胞 PGA 构建体植入猪膝关节内、外侧髁 8mm 直径和∼1.1mm 深的软骨缺损中。空缺陷作为评估内在愈合反应的对照。植入后 6 个月，使用宏观和微观评分系统以及生物力学分析监测缺陷愈合情况。在体内，用关节和耳廓软骨细胞接种 PGA 构建体可以观察到新软骨的形成。与空缺陷相比，无论是植入自体关节软骨细胞还是耳廓软骨细胞接种构建体，在宏观和组织学水平上，缺陷愈合没有显著差异。尽管差异不显著，但与空缺陷组相比，耳廓软骨细胞为基础的植入物在宏观水平上导致修复质量略有下降，但在组织学上愈合反应更好。然而，生物力学分析显示，与其他组相比，耳廓软骨细胞植入后的修复组织具有更高的刚度。从这些结果推断，关节软骨细胞是植入的首选细胞来源。
