Repair of osteochondral defects by mosaicplasty and allogeneic BMSCs transplantation.

objectiveTo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of repairing osteochondral defects with mosaicplasty and allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation.

methodsBMSCs were harvested from rabbits and maintained in vitro. Cells of third passage were mixed with pluronic F-127. Osteochondral defect animal model was established in rabbits and then this defect was treated with autologous osteochondral grafts with or without BMSCs above mentioned. In control group, pure pluronic F-127 was filled in the defect. Histological and immunohistological examinations were performed for the evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness.

resultsAutologous osteochondral grafts in both groups were not loose, prolapsed and depressed. In BMSCs group, the tissues in the "death space" became hyaline cartilage. The arrangement of chondrocytes was regular. At 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, O'Driscoll and Keeley and Salter score were 14.00±1.00, 16.75±1.71, 18.00±0.82 and 20.50±1.29 in BMSCs group, which were significantly higher than those in control group (7.67±0.58, 8.00±0.82, 8.50±0.58 and 9.00±0.82, respectively). There were significant differences among different treatments (F=584.028, P=0.000), but the score was comparable between right defect and left defect (F=0.028, P=0.890). In addition, significant difference was also observed at different time points (F=18.364, P=0.000), but there was no interaction between time and treatment (F=6.939, P=0.015). Moreover, interactions among other factors were also not observed.

conclusionMosaicplasty and BMSC transplantation are effective to repair the osteochondral defects and integrate the "death space", achieving a better therapeutic efficacy. Thus, this combined therapy may become an effective strategy for the therapy of osteochondral defects.