Transplantation of autologous synovial mesenchymal stem cells promotes meniscus regeneration in aged primates

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462324
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Toshifumi 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 講師 (60634053)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MUNETA Takeshi 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 教授 (50190864) ; SEKIYA Ichiro 東京医科歯科大学, 再生医療研究センター, 教授 (10345291) ; OKAWA Atushi 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 教授 (30251507) ; SOTOME Shinichi 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 寄附講座教員 (20401391)
• Research Collaborator: KONDO Shimpei 東京医科歯科大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells / synovium / meniscus / regeneration / primate

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated whether transplantation of aggregates of autologous synovial MSCs promoted meniscal regeneration in aged primates. After the anterior halves of the medial menisci in both knees were removed, an average of 14 aggregates consisting of 250,000 synovial MSCs were transplanted onto the meniscus defect. No aggregates were transplanted to the opposite knee for the control. Meniscus and articular cartilage were analyzed macroscopically and histologically at 8 (n=3) and 16 weeks (n=4). The medial meniscus was larger and the histological score for the regenerated meniscus was better in the MSC group than in the control group in each primate at 8 and 16 weeks. Mankin’s score for the medial femoral condyle cartilage was better in the MSC group than in the control group in all primates at 16 weeks. Transplantation of aggregates of autologous synovial MSCs promoted meniscus regeneration and delayed progression of degeneration of articular cartilage in aged primates.

Free Research Field

軟骨再生