Cell survival after transplantation of fresh meniscal allografts. DNA probe analysis in a goat model.

UNLABELLED: Fibrochondrocytes synthesize and maintain the extracellular matrix responsible for the distinctive material and structural properties of a normal meniscus. Viable meniscal cells are believed to be necessary for the long-term maintenance of these properties in meniscal allografts. The purpose of this study was to determine if the donor cells (fibrochondrocytes) survive after a fresh meniscal allograft transplantation. A DNA probe technique was used to clearly distinguish the DNA patterns in donor cells from the host cells in the Spanish goat. No remaining donor DNA could be demonstrated at 4 weeks in transplanted meniscal tissue; it was all of host origin. The host DNA content at 4 weeks approached or exceeded the amount present in the contralateral control meniscus. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study demonstrate that viable cells in medial meniscal allografts transplanted from one animal to another do not survive. Host cells rapidly repopulate the transplanted meniscus. There is no evidence these new cells will maintain on a long-term basis the extracellular matrix of the meniscus. The evidence in this paper, that the fibrochondrocytes do not survive transplantation, suggests further justification is necessary for using grafts with living cells. Allografts with living cells have an increased expense, more complicated surgical logistics, and have a higher potential risk of disease transmission.