Fol. Biol. 2014, 60, 1-9

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2014060010001

Comparison of the Cellular Composition of Two Different Chondrocyte-Seeded Biomaterials and the Results of Their Transplantation in Humans

Martin Horák1, M. Handl2, A. Podškubka3, R. Kaňa4, J. Adler5, C. Povýšil6

1Department of Radiology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
2Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
3Department of Orthopedics, Teaching Hospital Na Bulovce, Prague, Czech Republic
4Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
5Tissue Bank, University Hospital Bohunice, Brno, Czech Republic
6Institute of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

Received July 2013
Accepted August 2013

Our study compares the histological and immunohistochemical cellular composition of two different chondrocyte-seeded biomaterials and the results of their transplantation. Our study cohort included 21 patients, comprising 19 men and two women with a mean age of 32 years, who were affected by single chondral lesions of the femoral condyles. These patients were enrolled in our study and treated with arthroscopic implantation of the tissue Hyalograft C and/or Brno culture. Brno culture bioengineered with a fibrin-based scaffold contains round cells showing features of differentiated chondrocytes expressing S-100 protein and α-smooth muscle actin. In contrast, in the case of Hyalograft C, the scaffold was made up of a fibrillar network composed of biomaterial fibres of the esters of hyaluronic acid and cells resembling fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and expressing only α-smooth muscle actin. The average size of the defects was 2.5 cm2. Patients were evaluated using the standardized guidelines of the International Knee Documentation Committee. During the comparison of bioptic samples obtained from both patient cohorts, we did not observe any important differences in the histological makeup of the newly formed cartilage. This was predominantly composed of hyaline cartilage with small areas of fibrocartilage. The histological analysis of these two groups of homogeneous patients shows that this bioengineered approach, under proper indications, may offer favourable and stable clinical results over time, in spite of the different matrix and cellular composition of the two transplants used.

Funding

This work was supported by grant PRVOUK-P27/LF1/1.

References

23 live references