A novel organ culture model of a joint for the evaluation of static and dynamic load on articular cartilage

作者：Lin Y C^*; Hall A C; Simpson A H R W

来源：Bone & Joint Research, 2018, 7(3): 205-212.

DOI：10.1302/2046-3758.73.BJR-2017-0320

• Joint organ culture
• Ex vivo model
• Dynamic movement

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to create a novel ex vivo organ culture model for evaluating the effects of static and dynamic load on cartilage.
Methods
The metatarsophalangeal joints of 12 fresh cadaveric bovine feet were skinned and dissected aseptically, and cultured for up to four weeks. Dynamic movement was applied using a custom-made machine on six joints, with the others cultured under static conditions. Chondrocyte viability and matrix glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content were evaluated by the cell viability probes, 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) and propidium iodide (PI), and dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay, respectively.
Results
Chondrocyte viability in the static model decreased significantly from 89.9% (SD 2.5%) (Day 0) to 66.5% (SD 13.1%) (Day 28), 94.7% (SD 1.1%) to 80. 9% (SD 5.8%) and 80.1% (SD 3.0%) to 46.9% (SD 8.5%) in the superficial quarter, central half and deep quarter of cartilage, respectively (p < 0.001 in each zone; one-way analysis of variance). The GAG content decreased significantly from 6.01 mu g/mg (SD 0.06) (Day 0) to 4.71 mu g/mg (SD 0.06) (Day 28) (p < 0.001; one-way analysis of variance). However, with dynamic movement, chondrocyte viability and GAG content were maintained at the Day 0 level over the four-week period without a significant change (chondrocyte viability: 92.0% (SD 4.0%) (Day 0) to 89.9% (SD 0.2%) (Day 28), 93.1% (SD 1.5%) to 93.8% (SD 0.9%) and 85.6% (SD 0.8%) to 84.0% (SD 2.9%) in the three corresponding zones; GAG content: 6.18 mu g/mg (SD 0.15) (Day 0) to 6.06 mu g/mg (SD 0.09) (Day 28)).
Conclusion
Dynamic joint movement maintained chondrocyte viability and cartilage GAG content. This long-term whole joint culture model could be of value in providing a more natural and controlled platform for investigating the influence of joint movement on articular cartilage, and for evaluating novel therapies for cartilage repair.

• 出版日期2018-3