The effect of cell-based therapy with autologous synovial fibroblasts activated by exogenous TGF-beta1 on the in situ frozen-thawed anterior cruciate ligament.

Okuizumi, Tomoo; Tohyama, Harukazu; Kondo, Eiji; Yasuda, Kazunori · J Orthop Sci · 2004

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The present study was conducted to clarify the effect of cell therapy with autologous synovial tissue-derived fibroblasts activated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 on the necrotized anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Thirty-six mature female Japanese white rabbits were used in this study. In Group I, fibrin glue with autologous synovial tissue-derived fibroblasts after TGF-beta stimulation was wrapped around the necrotized ACL after freeze-thaw treatment. In Group II, the glue without TGF-beta stimulation was wrapped around the frozen-thawed ACL. In Group III, the fibrin glue without fibroblasts was applied in the same manner on the frozen-thawed ACL. Histological observation found that implantation of fibroblasts after TGF-beta stimulation accelerated cellular infiltration into the ACL following fibroblast necrosis. Biomechanically, the transplantation of synovial tissue-derived autologous fibroblasts activated by TGF-beta inhibited mechanical deterioration of the ACL after the freeze-thaw treatment. The present study has shown that cell-based therapy using synovial tissue-derived fibroblasts activated by TGF-beta1 is a possible solution to mechanical deterioration of the graft after ACL reconstruction.

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