Autologous transplantation of culture-born myofibroblasts into intact and injured rabbit ligaments

作者：Laumonier, Thomas; Michel, Marlene; Gabbiani, Giulio; Hoffmeyer, Pierre; Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce; Menetrey, Jacques^*

来源：International Orthopaedics, 2012, 36(8): 1733-1738.

DOI：10.1007/s00264-012-1519-4

• ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT
• SMOOTH MUSCLE ACTIN
• MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT
• GROWTH-FACTORS
• MATRIX SYNTHESIS
• GENE-TRANSFER
• EXPRESSION
• TENDON
• CELLS
• FIBROBLASTS

The myofibroblast, a contractile fibroblastic cell expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), has been reported to play a role in ligament healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transplanting culture-derived myofibroblasts in injured rabbit medial collateral ligaments (MCL) and in intact anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).
Fibroblasts isolated from the iliotibial band were cultured in the presence of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta 1) for five days and analysed for alpha-SMA expression. In a concentration of TGF-beta 1 a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand 10 ng/ml, the differentiation rate into myofibroblast was 90%. After labelling with PKH26, alpha-SMA -positive cells were transplanted in intact ACL and in injured MCL of ten rabbits.
Survival of PKH-26+ cells was seen in all intact and damaged ligaments one day after injection. The density of PKH-26+ cells had decreased at seven days postinjection in both ligaments. Double-positive PKH-26+/alpha-SMA+ cells were only observed in injured MCL at seven days postinjection. Moreover, we found that genetically modified fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts and can be transplanted into ligaments.
Our data demonstrate that culture-born myofibroblasts survive and maintain alpha-SMA expression up to one week after transplantation. This study provides the first insight into the feasibility of transplanted mechanically active cells for ligament reconstruction.

• 出版日期2012-8