Cells of the new septum for the restoration of articular cartilage
An international group of researchers led by Professor Ivan Martin from the University of Basel (Switzerland), demonstrated the possibility of repairing articular cartilage defects using cells isolated from the nasal septum. Previously, this technique has already been used in reconstructive surgery to restore cosmetic defects of the nose.
As a result of age-related joint degeneration, defects of articular cartilage often appear in the elderly, complicating the work of the joints and causing painful sensations. In young people, cartilage defects are usually the consequences of injuries and accidents. In many cases, the elimination of such defects requires complex surgical interventions and long-term rehabilitation.
The authors suggested that this problem can be solved with the help of cartilaginous cells of the nasal septum actively multiplying in laboratory conditions, previously successfully used by them to repair defects in the wings of the nose. Certain doubts about the success of such an intervention were due to the different origin of the cells. The fact is that in the process of embryonic development, the cells of the nasal septum are formed from the cells of the neuroectodermal germ layer, which also gives rise to the nervous system. Their ability to self-renew is due to the lack of expression of a number of genes of the HOX family. Articular cartilage cells, on the contrary, express these genes, as they are formed from the mesodermal germ layer of the embryo.
However, experiments on goats have shown that, despite the different origins and differences in the profile of gene expression, the implanted cells of the nasal cartilage are compatible with the cartilage tissue of the joint.
These results were taken as the basis for an ongoing clinical study, in which scientists isolated small fragments (6 mm in diameter) of nasal septum tissue in 7 out of 25 planned patients aged under 55 years and isolated cartilage cells from them. These cells were multiplied in the laboratory and applied to the frame in order to create 30x40 mm fragments of cartilage tissue intended for subsequent transplantation.
A few weeks later, they removed the damaged areas of cartilage tissue from the patients' knee joints and replaced them with laboratory-grown grafts, which had previously been given the necessary shape.
Preliminary results of monitoring the condition of patients indicate the safety of this approach. The researchers also note that to date, the clinical effectiveness of the procedure inspires great hopes.
The image of the cartilage defect zone obtained by magnetic resonance imaging
before the transplant (left) and 4 months after it (right).
Article by K. Pelttari et al. Adult human neural crest-derived cells for articular cartage repair is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Universitat Basel:
From Nose to Knee: Engineered Cartilage Regenerates Joints.
01.09.2014