Development of articular cartilage repair using minced cartilage and microRNA/exosomes

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H04314
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Adachi Nobuo 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(医), 教授 (30294383)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 味八木 茂 広島大学, 病院(医), 講師 (10392490) ; 石川 正和 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(医), 寄附講座准教授 (60372158) ; 中佐 智幸 広島大学, 病院(医), 講師 (60467769)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 関節軟骨 / microRNA / エクソソーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Autologous chondrocyte implantation has been performed for large cartilage defect, but it requires two-stage surgery for chondrocyte culture. The purpose of this study was to develop a one-stage cartilage repair by atelocollagen gel embedded minced cartilage implantation. After 3 weeks culture, cell migration and proliferation in the gel and GAG contents in minced cartilage group was significantly higher than those in isolated chondrocyte group. The culture medium in the minced cartilage group contained a large amount of microRNAs which promote chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. For the large osteochondral defect model of rabbits, atelocollagen embedded minced cartilage implantation achieved excellent cartilage and subchondral bone repair. Atelocollagen embedded minced cartilage implantation will be good treatment option for large cartilage defect as one-step surgery.

Free Research Field

整形外科学、再生医療、関節病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

広範囲軟骨欠損に対して自家培養軟骨細胞移植術が行われるが、軟骨細胞の単離・培養が必要で2段階手術となる等、様々な問題が存在する。本研究では、細切した軟骨片をアテロコラーゲンゲルに包埋し軟骨欠損部に移植することで、一期的な広範囲軟骨欠損修復が可能であることを証明した。この方法が臨床に応用されれば、低侵襲で短期間かつ有用な治療となり、医療費削減にもつながり、学術的意義だけではなく社会的意義もあるものと考える。