Combined surgery and chondrocyte cell-sheet transplantation improves clinical and structural outcomes in knee osteoarthritis

• DOI: 10.1038/s41536-019-0069-4
• Publication Date: 2019-02-21T11:04:12Z
• Authors: Masato Sato; Masayuki Yamato; Genya Mitani; Tomonori Takagaki; Kosuke Hamahashi; Yoshihiko Nakamura; Miya Ishihara; Ryo Matoba; Hiroyuki Kobayashi; Teruo Okano; Joji Mochida; Masahiko Watanabe
• Keywords: Hyaline cartilage; Fibrocartilage

Abstract Current cartilage regenerative therapies are not fully effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). We have developed chondrocyte sheets for autologous transplantation and tested these vitro vivo preclinical studies, reported that promoted hyaline repair rat, rabbit, minipig models. However, has yet to be humans. Here, we report our combination therapy which conventional surgical treatment OAK, is followed by sheet repair. Eight patients with OAK defects categorized arthroscopically as Outerbridge grade III or IV receive therapy. Patients thoroughly assessed preoperative postoperative X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arthroscopy, Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm (LKS), a laser-induced photoacoustic method assess viscoelasticity. Arthroscopic biopsies all performed 12 months after histological evaluation. The properties evaluated using gene expression analysis investigate ability predict clinical structural outcomes For this small initial longitudinal series, effective, MRI, viscoelasticity, histology, KOOS LKS. Gene marker sets identified may predictive overall KOOS, LKS, scores These potential alternative markers evaluating treatment.