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. 2019 Jun;17(6):4344-4356.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2019.7499. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Xenotransplantation of human dental pulp stem cells in platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model

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Xenotransplantation of human dental pulp stem cells in platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model

Ricardo Hideki Yanasse et al. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Stem cells in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) scaffolds may be a promising treatment for cartilage repair. Human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSC) subpopulations have been identified to have substantial angiogenic, neurogenic and regenerative potential when compared with other stem cell sources. The present study evaluated the potential of hDPSCs in a PRP scaffold to regenerate full-thickness cartilage defects in rabbits. Full-thickness articular cartilage defects were created in the patellar groove of the femur of 30 rabbits allocated into three experimental groups: Those with an untreated critical defect (CTL), those treated with PRP (PRP) and those treated with stem cells in a PRP scaffold (PRP+SC). The patellar grooves of the femurs from the experimental groups were evaluated macroscopically and histologically at 6 and 12 weeks post-surgery. The synovial membranes were also collected and evaluated for histopathological analysis. The synovial lining cell layer was enlarged in the CTL group compared with the PRP group at 6 weeks (P=0.037) but not with the PRP+SC group. All groups exhibited low-grade synovitis at 6 weeks and no synovitis at 12 weeks. Notably, macroscopic grades for the area of articular cartilage repair for the PRP+SC group were significantly improved compared with those in the CTL (P=0.001) and PRP (P=0.049) groups at 12 weeks. Furthermore, histological scores (modified O'Driscoll scoring system) of the patellar groove articular cartilage in the PRP+SC and PRP groups, in which the articular cartilage was primarily hyaline-like, were significantly higher compared with those in the CTL group at 12 weeks (P=0.002 and P=0.007, respectively). The present results support the therapeutic use of hDPSCs for the treatment of full-thickness articular cartilage defects.

Keywords: cartilage; dental pulp; knee; platelet-rich plasma; stem cells.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Surgical procedure. (A) Macroscopic view of the full-thickness defect in the trochlear groove of the femur. (B) View of PRP gel scaffold with (w) and without (wo) stem cells. (C) Macroscopic view of the defects filled with PRP gel scaffold with and without stem cells. PRP, platelet-rich plasma.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Representative general histology of the articular cartilage defects of the experimental groups stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Goldner trichrome (TG). In macroscopy images, scale bars=5 mm. In histological sections, scale bars=200 µm. CTL, control group without treatment; PRP, group treated with platelet-rich plasma; PRP+SC, group treated with PRP plus human dental pulp stem cells; fc, fibrocartilaginous tissue; hc, hyaline cartilage; ct, connective tissue; sb, subchondral bone.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Representative view of synovial membrane histology from experimental groups stained using H&E. Arrows indicate the layer of synovial lining cells with some stratification in all groups at 6 weeks post-surgery. Inflammatory infiltrate was minimal and was only observed surrounding the blood vessels at 6 weeks post-surgery (arrow heads). Scale bars=100 µm. CTL, control group without treatment; PRP, group treated with platelet-rich plasma; PRP+SC, group treated with PRP plus human dental pulp stem cells.

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