Evaluation of culture conditions for meniscus repair model systems using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

: Meniscal injury and loss of meniscus tissue lead to osteoarthritis development. Therefore, novel biologic strategies are needed to enhance meniscus tissue repair. The purpose of this study was to identify a favorable culture medium for both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and meniscal tissue, and to establish a novel meniscus tissue defect model that could be utilized for screening of biologics to promote meniscus repair.

Meniscus-Derived Matrix Scaffolds Promote the Integrative Repair of Meniscal Defects.

Meniscal tears have a poor healing capacity, and damage to the meniscus is associated with significant pain, disability, and progressive degenerative changes in the knee joint that lead to osteoarthritis. Therefore, strategies to promote meniscus repair and improve meniscus function are needed. The objective of this study was to generate porcine meniscus-derived matrix (MDM) scaffolds and test their effectiveness in promoting meniscus repair via migration of endogenous meniscus cells from the surrounding meniscus or exogenously seeded human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Adipokines induce catabolism of newly synthesized matrix in cartilage and meniscus tissues.

Purpose: Altered synovial levels of various adipokines (factors secreted by fat as well as other tissues) have been associated with osteoarthritis (OA) onset and progression. However, the metabolic effects of adipokines on joint tissues, in particular the fibrocartilaginous menisci, are not well understood. This study investigated effects of several adipokines on release of recently synthesized extracellular matrix in bovine cartilage and meniscus tissue explants.

Co-culture with infrapatellar fat pad differentially stimulates proteoglycan synthesis and accumulation in cartilage and meniscus tissues.

Purpose: Although osteoarthritis is widely viewed as a disease of the whole joint, relatively few studies have focused on interactions among joint tissues in joint homeostasis and degeneration. In particular, few studies have examined the effects of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) on cartilaginous tissues. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that co-culture with healthy IFP would induce degradation of cartilage and meniscus tissues.

Chondrocytes and meniscal fibrochondrocytes differentially process aggrecan during de novo extracellular matrix assembly.

Aggrecan is an extracellular matrix molecule that contributes to the mechanical properties of articular cartilage and meniscal fibrocartilage, but the abundance and processing of aggrecan in these tissues are different. The objective of this study was to compare patterns of aggrecan processing by chondrocytes and meniscal fibrochondrocytes in tissue explants and cell-agarose constructs. The effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) stimulation on aggrecan deposition and processing were examined, and construct mechanical properties were measured.