From chondrocyte culture to joint cartilage replacement. Development of de novo cartilage in vitro
Häuselmann, H.J.; Flura, T.; Marti, C.; Hauser, N.; Hedbom, E.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 128(21): 824-832
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 9642749 Document Number: 488128
Local repair of acute or chronic cartilage lesions has not been successful so far. An attempt has been made to use synthetic materials to improve the quality of the repair tissue, but no method has achieved reliable regrowth of normal hyaline cartilage with adequate biomechanical properties and bonding to surrounding tissue. After publication of the first short-term results of chondrocyte transplantation in patients with localized cartilage lesions of the knee joints by a Swedish group in 1994 [1], the situation seems to have changed. Even though the advantages of this method of chondrocyte transplantation is a matter of controversy, the interest in the so-called "Carticel" approach has grown steadily. Indeed, the technique was recently approved by the FDA, on condition of a randomized, "placebo"-controlled trial. In view of this rapid development, we feel that independent experimental studies are urgently needed. In this article we present our own results in synthesizing de novo cartilage from cultured and phenotypically stable chondrocytes in a truly three-dimensional cartilage-like polyanionic matrix. With the experience gained in animals, we expect to set the stage for future experimental therapy in young human patients with early cartilage lesions.