Degree of degeneration and Chondroitinase ABC treatment of human articular cartilage affect the adhesion of transplanted chondrocyte

Kim, Eun Mi; Yoo, Jae Ho; Lee, Sang Hoon; Seong, Sang Cheol; Kim, Hee Joong; Lee, Myung Chul

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of chondrocyte degeneration on chondrocyte adhesion, cell proliferation, proteoglycan and collagen synthesis and the effect of chondroitinase ABC on them. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Human cartilage explant and chondrocytes were harvested from patients underwent knee replacement arthroplasties for osteoarthritis. The articular surface was cut into a disc. Cartilage discs were grouped by grade of degeneration; normal (G0), superficial fissure (G1), and deep fissure (G2). Human chondrocytes were transferred onto cartilage discs pretreated with Chondroitinase ABC. The number of the attached chondrocyte and the cell proliferation and the amount of secreted proteoglycan and collagen was measured. The morphology of transplanted chondrocyte and cartilage surface was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
RESULTS
The number of chondrocytes attached to G1, G2 cartilage disc is greater than that of cells attached to G0 disc. The proliferation of chondrocyte attached to G1, G2 cartilage disc is greater than that of cells attached to G0 disc. Chondroitinase ABC treatment increases chondrocyte proliferation in G0 cartilage disc, but decreases chondrocyte proliferation in G1, G2 cartilage disc. The proliferation of transplanted chondrocyte is greater in G1, G2 group than G0 group. The amount of proteoglycan and collagen synthesized by transplanted chondrocyte is greater in G1, G2 group than G0 group. Chondroitinase ABC treatment decreases proteoglycan and collagen synthesis. At 21 days after transplantation, the degenerated surface of G1 or G2 cartilage disc was covered with the matrix synthesized by the transplanted chondrocyte. The degenerated surface of cartilage disc became very similar with normal articular cartilage surface with the new matrix made by transplanted chondrocyte under SEM. CONCOUSION: In this in vitro study, the transplanted chondrocytes onto osteoarthritic cartilage could repair the defects on the surface of osteoarthritic cartilage. The transplanted chondrocyte attached, proliferated, synthesized proteoglycan and collagen better on the surface of degenerated cartilage than on that of normal cartilage, and Chondroitinase ABC treatment of cartilage surface enhanced the cell attachment and inhibited proteoglycan and collagen synthesis. These findings may be applied to developing a new method of intraarticular chondrocyte injection for the treatment of osteoarthritis.