Kaoru Yamagata1, Shingo Nakayamada1, Tong Zhang1, Xiangmei Zhang2, Yoshiya Tanaka3. 1. The First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. 2. Research Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and The Tumor Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China. 3. The First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. tanaka@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Although articular cartilage contributes to smooth joint motion, once damaged this functionality cannot be recovered. Activation of the IL-6/STAT3 signalling pathway contributes to chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), indicating a role for soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) during chondrogenesis in vitro. The aim of this study is to develop a novel therapeutic tool for regenerative medicine of articular cartilage. METHODS: Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were pre-treated with sIL-6R to direct their differentiation into chondrocytes, then seeded on a poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) sheet to enhance the localised residence of MSCs. The material was implanted into knee joint spaces of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After 8 weeks, the effects of the implantation on articular cartilage repair were assessed by x-ray image and staining with safranin O (S-O), aggrecan and human leukocyte antigen (HLA). RESULTS: Swelling of knees in AIA rats, but not sham-treated rats, was observed. AIA rats implanted with PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs showed similar knee joint imaging to sham rats using x-ray; however, those with PLGA alone, or with PLGA with MSCs, did not. Rats implanted with PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs, but not PLGA alone or PLGA with MSCs, showed positive imaging by S-O staining as well as human aggrecan. HLA was not detected in the knees of any of the rats. CONCLUSIONS: PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs help to repair articular cartilage with high efficacy. Thus, the application of this promising strategy to regenerative medicine for articular cartilage in patients with RA is anticipated.
OBJECTIVES: Although articular cartilage contributes to smooth joint motion, once damaged this functionality cannot be recovered. Activation of the IL-6/STAT3 signalling pathway contributes to chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), indicating a role for soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) during chondrogenesis in vitro. The aim of this study is to develop a novel therapeutic tool for regenerative medicine of articular cartilage. METHODS:Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were pre-treated with sIL-6R to direct their differentiation into chondrocytes, then seeded on a poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) sheet to enhance the localised residence of MSCs. The material was implanted into knee joint spaces of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After 8 weeks, the effects of the implantation on articular cartilage repair were assessed by x-ray image and staining with safranin O (S-O), aggrecan and human leukocyte antigen (HLA). RESULTS: Swelling of knees in AIA rats, but not sham-treated rats, was observed. AIA rats implanted with PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs showed similar knee joint imaging to sham rats using x-ray; however, those with PLGA alone, or with PLGA with MSCs, did not. Rats implanted with PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs, but not PLGA alone or PLGA with MSCs, showed positive imaging by S-O staining as well as human aggrecan. HLA was not detected in the knees of any of the rats. CONCLUSIONS:PLGA and sIL-6R-treated MSCs help to repair articular cartilage with high efficacy. Thus, the application of this promising strategy to regenerative medicine for articular cartilage in patients with RA is anticipated.