A "patch" of stem cells restores menisci
Researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Bristol conducted a pilot clinical study of a "patch" of stem cells for the treatment of meniscus ruptures developed by Azellon specialists.
In the USA and Europe alone, meniscus rupture is diagnosed in more than a million people annually. Most often, athletes involved in contact sports, such as football and rugby, suffer from this injury. 90% of ruptures occur in the white zone of the meniscus, which does not have its own blood supply system, which complicates the recovery process. Many professional athletes agree to complete removal of torn tissue, which increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
Five patients aged 18 to 45 years took part in a clinical study of a prototype cell patch (the authors for some reason called it a "bandage", Cell Bandage) designed to stimulate the growth of cells of the damaged area of the meniscus.
The procedure included isolation of autologous (own) mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow obtained by piercing the patient's subcutaneous bone, and their cultivation for two weeks. At the end of cultivation, the cells were sown on a collagen scaffold, facilitating their introduction into the damage zone. The resulting "patch" was surgically implanted into the middle of the meniscus rupture, after which the cartilage tissue surrounding the rupture was sutured to hold the implant in place.
12 months after implantation, all five patients had intact menisci. After 24 months, three out of five patients still had intact menisci and fully restored knee joint function, while two remaining patients required the removal of damaged menisci due to the appearance of a new rupture or the resumption of symptoms.
According to Professor Anthony Hollander from the University of Liverpool, who is the founder of Azellon and the head of its scientific department, the results of the clinical trial are very promising. They demonstrate a potential alternative to surgical removal of an injured meniscus, providing restoration of damaged tissue and functions of the knee joint.
Currently, researchers are developing an improved version of a cell patch containing donor stem cells, which will reduce the cost of the procedure and eliminate the need for two surgical interventions.
Article by Michael R. Whitehouse et al. Repair of torn avascular meniscal cartilage using undifferentiated autologous mesenchymal stem cells: from in vitro optimisation to a first-in-human study published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Liverpool: Stem cell 'living bandage' for knee injuries trialled in humans.
20.12.2016