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Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common disabling disease with a high impact on quality of life, has a large societal cost. Yet no procedure halts progressive degeneration of the osteoarthritic knee joint.1,2
According to Barry,3 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into many different connective tissue cells, including cartilage. MSCs can be isolated from bone marrow, skeletal muscle, fat, and synovium. MSCs are multipotent cells with the capacity for self-renewal. Therefore, adult MSCs may regenerate tissues damaged by disease. In OA, the proliferative capacity and ability to differentiate are reduced in MSCs. Intra-articular injections of MSCs (MSC therapy) could repair progressively degenerated knee cartilage.
This review article summarizes the knowledge on the role of intra-articular injections of MSCs in the treatment of KOA, based on studies published in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The article also reviews the methodology and results of the animal and clinical studies published so far on the topic.
Materials and Methods
PubMed (Medline) and the Cochrane Library were searched for literature on the role of MSC therapy in treating KOA. The key words used were stem cells and knee osteoarthritis. The period searched was from when these search engines began until January 31, 2014. One hundred thirty-five articles (including negative studies) were found, but only the 25 deeply focused on the topic were reviewed. The Figure shows the flow diagram of this study.
Results
Several experimental models of KOA have shown that MSC therapy can delay progressive degeneration of the knee joint (Appendix 1).4-15 Using a rabbit massive meniscal defect model, Hatsushika and colleagues13 found that a single intra-articular injection of synovial MSCs into the knee adhered around the meniscal defect and promoted meniscal regeneration. Park and colleagues14 conducted an experimental study in dogs—the first demonstrating regional and systemic safety and systemic immunomodulatory effects of repeated local delivery of allogeneic MSCs in vivo. Regarding the observed systemic immunomodulatory effects, clinical and pathologic examinations revealed no severe consequences of repeated MSC transplantations. Results of mixed leukocyte reactions demonstrated suppression of T-cell proliferation after MSC transplantations.
Of the human studies published so far, only 3 were prospective randomized trials (level II evidence) included in the Cochrane Library (Appendix 2).16-18 Varma and colleagues16 found that intra-articular injections of MSCs considerably improved overall KOA outcome scores. Fifty patients with mild to moderate KOA were divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent arthroscopic débridement, and group B had buffy coat (MSC concentrate) injection and arthroscopic débridement. Patients were assessed on the basis of their visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and osteoarthritis outcome scores.
Wong and colleagues17 analyzed 56 knees in 56 patients (mean age, 51 years) with unicompartmental KOA and genu varum. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, MSC and control. All patients underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and microfracture. Patients in the MSC group received intra-articular injection of cultured MSCs with hyaluronic acid (HA) 3 weeks after surgery. Patients in the control group received only HA. The primary outcome measure was International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were Tegner and Lysholm clinical scores and 1-year postoperative Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scores. Both treatment arms achieved improvements in Tegner, Lysholm, and IKDC scores. After adjustment for age, baseline scores, and time of evaluation, the MSC group had significantly better scores. One year after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed significantly better MOCART scores for the MSC group. Intra-articular injection of MSCs appeared to be effective in improving short-term clinical and MOCART outcomes in patients who underwent HTO and microfracture for varus knees with cartilage defects.
Saw and colleagues18 compared histologic and MRI evaluation of articular cartilage regeneration in patients with chondral lesions treated by arthroscopic subchondral drilling followed by postoperative intra-articular injections of HA with and without peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). Fifty patients (ages, 18-50 years) with International Cartilage Repair Society grades 3 and 4 lesions of the knee joint underwent arthroscopic subchondral drilling; 25 patients were randomized to the intervention group (HA + PBSC) and 25 to the control group (HA). Both groups received 5 weekly injections starting 1 week after surgery. Three additional injections of either HA + PBSC or HA only were given at weekly intervals 6 months after surgery. After arthroscopic subchondral drilling into grades 3 and 4 chondral lesions, postoperative intra-articular injections of autologous PBSC combined with HA resulted in improved quality of articular cartilage repair over the same treatment without PBSC.
The other human studies analyzed had a low level of evidence (grade IV, case series) but found that intra-articular injections of MSCs reduced pain and improved function in patients with KOA over the short term, 1 year (Appendix 3).19-25
Discussion
This review aimed to define the role of MSC therapy in the treatment of KOA. MSC therapy has yielded encouraging outcomes in experimental models of KOA.4-15 These experimental studies have suggested that MSCs can halt cartilage degeneration in KOA. So far, however, only 3 human studies with grade II evidence (randomized prospective trials) have been reported on the role of MSCs in KOA, but results of these studies have suggested that MSCs can reduce pain and improve function.16-18
Previous reviews of the literature1,2 have analyzed the role of MSC therapy in KOA. Barry and Murphy1 reported that several early-stage clinical trials, initiated or under way in 2013, were testing MSC delivery as an intra-articular injection into the knee, but optimal dose and vehicle were yet to be established. Filardo and colleagues2 reported that, despite growing interest in this biological approach to cartilage regeneration, knowledge on the topic is still preliminary, as shown by the prevalence of preclinical studies and the presence of low-quality clinical studies.
Study design weakness prevents effective comparison of the efficacy of MSC therapy with that of other treatments for relief of pain and other outcomes in KOA. The consistency of evidence of the clinical studies is low because of many uncontrolled variables.1-3
Conclusion
The results of MSC therapy in KOA are encouraging. However, optimal dose and vehicle are yet to be established.1 Knowledge on this topic is still preliminary. Many aspects have to be optimized, and further randomized controlled trials are needed to support the potential of this biological treatment for cartilage repair and to evaluate advantages and disadvantages with respect to the available treatments. The relative short duration of these studies is also a limitation for the technique at present.
1. Barry F, Murphy M. Mesenchymal stem cells in joint disease and repair. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(10):584-594.
2. Filardo G, Madry H, Jelic M, Roffi A, Cucchiarini M, Kon E. Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cartilage lesions: from preclinical findings to clinical application in orthopaedics. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013;21(8):1717-1729.
3. Barry FP. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in joint disease. Novartis Found Symp. 2003;249:86-96.
4. Murphy JM, Fink DJ, Hunziker EB, Barry FP. Stem cell therapy in a caprine model of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(12):3464-3474.
5. Al Faqeh H, Norhamdan MY, Chua KH, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. Cell based therapy for osteoarthritis in a sheep model: gross and histological assessment. Med J Malaysia. 2008;63(suppl A):37-38.
6. Grigolo B, Lisignoli G, Desando G, et al. Osteoarthritis treated with mesenchymal stem cells on hyaluronan-based scaffold in rabbit. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009;15(4):647-658.
7. Toghraie FS, Chenari N, Gholipour MA, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis with infrapatellar fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells in rabbit. Knee. 2011;18(2):71-75.
8. Sato M, Uchida K, Nakajima H, et al. Direct transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joints of Hartley strain guinea pigs with spontaneous osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(1):R31.
9. Suhaeb AM, Naveen S, Mansor A, Kamarul T. Hyaluronic acid with or without bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells improves osteoarthritic knee changes in rat model: a preliminary report. Indian J Exp Biol. 2012;50(6):383-390.
10. Al Faqeh H, Nor Hamdan BM, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic-induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model. Exp Gerontol. 2012;47(6):458-464.
11. Toghraie F, Razmkhah M, Gholipour MA, et al. Scaffold-free adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) improve experimentally induced osteoarthritis in rabbits. Arch Iran Med. 2012;15(8):495-499.
12. ter Huurne M, Schelbergen R, Blattes R, et al. Antiinflammatory and chondroprotective effects of intraarticular injection of adipose-derived stem cells in experimental osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(11):3604-3613.
13. Hatsushika D, Muneta T, Horie M, Koga H, Tsuji K, Sekiya I. Intraarticular injection of synovial stem cells promotes meniscal regeneration in a rabbit massive meniscal defect model. J Orthop Res. 2013;31(9):1354-1359.
14. Park SA, Reilly CM, Wood JA, et al. Safety and immunomodulatory effects of allogeneic canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplanted into the region of the lacrimal gland, the gland of the third eyelid and the knee joint. Cytotherapy. 2013;15(12):1498-1510.
15. Nam H, Karunanithi P, Loo WC, et al. The effects of staged intra-articular injection of cultured autologous mesenchymal stromal cells on the repair of damaged cartilage: a pilot study in caprine model. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(5):R129.
16. Varma HS, Dadarya B, Vidyarthi A. The new avenues in the management of osteo-arthritis of knee—stem cells. J Indian Med Assoc. 2010;108(9):583-585.
17. Wong KL, Lee KB, Tai BC, Law P, Lee EH, Hui JH. Injectable cultured bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells in varus knees with cartilage defects undergoing high tibial osteotomy: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial with 2 years’ follow-up. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(12):2020-2028.
18. Saw KY, Anz A, Siew-Yoke Jee C, et al. Articular cartilage regeneration with autologous peripheral blood stem cells versus hyaluronic acid: a randomized controlled trial. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(4):684-694.
19. Davatchi F, Abdollahi BS, Mohyeddin M, Shahram F, Nikbin B. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Preliminary report of four patients. Int J Rheum Dis. 2011;14(2):211-215.
20. Koh YG, Choi YJ. Infrapatellar fat pad–derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Knee. 2012;19(4):902-907.
21. Orozco L, Munar A, Soler R, et al. Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with autologous mesenchymal stem cells: a pilot study. Transplantation. 2013;95(12):1535-1541.
22. Koh YG, Jo SB, Kwon OR, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell injections improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(4):748-755.
23. Koh YG, Choi YJ, Kwon SK, Kim YS, Yeo JE. Clinical results and second-look arthroscopic findings after treatment with adipose-derived stem cells for knee osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013 Dec 11. [Epub ahead of print].
24. Jo CH, Lee YG, Shin WH, et al. Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a proof-of-concept clinical trial. Stem Cells. 2014;32(5):1254-1266.
25. Gobbi A, Karnatzikos G, Sankineani SR. One-step surgery with multipotent stem cells for the treatment of large full-thickness chondral defects of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(3):648-657.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common disabling disease with a high impact on quality of life, has a large societal cost. Yet no procedure halts progressive degeneration of the osteoarthritic knee joint.1,2
According to Barry,3 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into many different connective tissue cells, including cartilage. MSCs can be isolated from bone marrow, skeletal muscle, fat, and synovium. MSCs are multipotent cells with the capacity for self-renewal. Therefore, adult MSCs may regenerate tissues damaged by disease. In OA, the proliferative capacity and ability to differentiate are reduced in MSCs. Intra-articular injections of MSCs (MSC therapy) could repair progressively degenerated knee cartilage.
This review article summarizes the knowledge on the role of intra-articular injections of MSCs in the treatment of KOA, based on studies published in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The article also reviews the methodology and results of the animal and clinical studies published so far on the topic.
Materials and Methods
PubMed (Medline) and the Cochrane Library were searched for literature on the role of MSC therapy in treating KOA. The key words used were stem cells and knee osteoarthritis. The period searched was from when these search engines began until January 31, 2014. One hundred thirty-five articles (including negative studies) were found, but only the 25 deeply focused on the topic were reviewed. The Figure shows the flow diagram of this study.
Results
Several experimental models of KOA have shown that MSC therapy can delay progressive degeneration of the knee joint (Appendix 1).4-15 Using a rabbit massive meniscal defect model, Hatsushika and colleagues13 found that a single intra-articular injection of synovial MSCs into the knee adhered around the meniscal defect and promoted meniscal regeneration. Park and colleagues14 conducted an experimental study in dogs—the first demonstrating regional and systemic safety and systemic immunomodulatory effects of repeated local delivery of allogeneic MSCs in vivo. Regarding the observed systemic immunomodulatory effects, clinical and pathologic examinations revealed no severe consequences of repeated MSC transplantations. Results of mixed leukocyte reactions demonstrated suppression of T-cell proliferation after MSC transplantations.
Of the human studies published so far, only 3 were prospective randomized trials (level II evidence) included in the Cochrane Library (Appendix 2).16-18 Varma and colleagues16 found that intra-articular injections of MSCs considerably improved overall KOA outcome scores. Fifty patients with mild to moderate KOA were divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent arthroscopic débridement, and group B had buffy coat (MSC concentrate) injection and arthroscopic débridement. Patients were assessed on the basis of their visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and osteoarthritis outcome scores.
Wong and colleagues17 analyzed 56 knees in 56 patients (mean age, 51 years) with unicompartmental KOA and genu varum. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, MSC and control. All patients underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and microfracture. Patients in the MSC group received intra-articular injection of cultured MSCs with hyaluronic acid (HA) 3 weeks after surgery. Patients in the control group received only HA. The primary outcome measure was International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were Tegner and Lysholm clinical scores and 1-year postoperative Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scores. Both treatment arms achieved improvements in Tegner, Lysholm, and IKDC scores. After adjustment for age, baseline scores, and time of evaluation, the MSC group had significantly better scores. One year after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed significantly better MOCART scores for the MSC group. Intra-articular injection of MSCs appeared to be effective in improving short-term clinical and MOCART outcomes in patients who underwent HTO and microfracture for varus knees with cartilage defects.
Saw and colleagues18 compared histologic and MRI evaluation of articular cartilage regeneration in patients with chondral lesions treated by arthroscopic subchondral drilling followed by postoperative intra-articular injections of HA with and without peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). Fifty patients (ages, 18-50 years) with International Cartilage Repair Society grades 3 and 4 lesions of the knee joint underwent arthroscopic subchondral drilling; 25 patients were randomized to the intervention group (HA + PBSC) and 25 to the control group (HA). Both groups received 5 weekly injections starting 1 week after surgery. Three additional injections of either HA + PBSC or HA only were given at weekly intervals 6 months after surgery. After arthroscopic subchondral drilling into grades 3 and 4 chondral lesions, postoperative intra-articular injections of autologous PBSC combined with HA resulted in improved quality of articular cartilage repair over the same treatment without PBSC.
The other human studies analyzed had a low level of evidence (grade IV, case series) but found that intra-articular injections of MSCs reduced pain and improved function in patients with KOA over the short term, 1 year (Appendix 3).19-25
Discussion
This review aimed to define the role of MSC therapy in the treatment of KOA. MSC therapy has yielded encouraging outcomes in experimental models of KOA.4-15 These experimental studies have suggested that MSCs can halt cartilage degeneration in KOA. So far, however, only 3 human studies with grade II evidence (randomized prospective trials) have been reported on the role of MSCs in KOA, but results of these studies have suggested that MSCs can reduce pain and improve function.16-18
Previous reviews of the literature1,2 have analyzed the role of MSC therapy in KOA. Barry and Murphy1 reported that several early-stage clinical trials, initiated or under way in 2013, were testing MSC delivery as an intra-articular injection into the knee, but optimal dose and vehicle were yet to be established. Filardo and colleagues2 reported that, despite growing interest in this biological approach to cartilage regeneration, knowledge on the topic is still preliminary, as shown by the prevalence of preclinical studies and the presence of low-quality clinical studies.
Study design weakness prevents effective comparison of the efficacy of MSC therapy with that of other treatments for relief of pain and other outcomes in KOA. The consistency of evidence of the clinical studies is low because of many uncontrolled variables.1-3
Conclusion
The results of MSC therapy in KOA are encouraging. However, optimal dose and vehicle are yet to be established.1 Knowledge on this topic is still preliminary. Many aspects have to be optimized, and further randomized controlled trials are needed to support the potential of this biological treatment for cartilage repair and to evaluate advantages and disadvantages with respect to the available treatments. The relative short duration of these studies is also a limitation for the technique at present.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a common disabling disease with a high impact on quality of life, has a large societal cost. Yet no procedure halts progressive degeneration of the osteoarthritic knee joint.1,2
According to Barry,3 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into many different connective tissue cells, including cartilage. MSCs can be isolated from bone marrow, skeletal muscle, fat, and synovium. MSCs are multipotent cells with the capacity for self-renewal. Therefore, adult MSCs may regenerate tissues damaged by disease. In OA, the proliferative capacity and ability to differentiate are reduced in MSCs. Intra-articular injections of MSCs (MSC therapy) could repair progressively degenerated knee cartilage.
This review article summarizes the knowledge on the role of intra-articular injections of MSCs in the treatment of KOA, based on studies published in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The article also reviews the methodology and results of the animal and clinical studies published so far on the topic.
Materials and Methods
PubMed (Medline) and the Cochrane Library were searched for literature on the role of MSC therapy in treating KOA. The key words used were stem cells and knee osteoarthritis. The period searched was from when these search engines began until January 31, 2014. One hundred thirty-five articles (including negative studies) were found, but only the 25 deeply focused on the topic were reviewed. The Figure shows the flow diagram of this study.
Results
Several experimental models of KOA have shown that MSC therapy can delay progressive degeneration of the knee joint (Appendix 1).4-15 Using a rabbit massive meniscal defect model, Hatsushika and colleagues13 found that a single intra-articular injection of synovial MSCs into the knee adhered around the meniscal defect and promoted meniscal regeneration. Park and colleagues14 conducted an experimental study in dogs—the first demonstrating regional and systemic safety and systemic immunomodulatory effects of repeated local delivery of allogeneic MSCs in vivo. Regarding the observed systemic immunomodulatory effects, clinical and pathologic examinations revealed no severe consequences of repeated MSC transplantations. Results of mixed leukocyte reactions demonstrated suppression of T-cell proliferation after MSC transplantations.
Of the human studies published so far, only 3 were prospective randomized trials (level II evidence) included in the Cochrane Library (Appendix 2).16-18 Varma and colleagues16 found that intra-articular injections of MSCs considerably improved overall KOA outcome scores. Fifty patients with mild to moderate KOA were divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent arthroscopic débridement, and group B had buffy coat (MSC concentrate) injection and arthroscopic débridement. Patients were assessed on the basis of their visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and osteoarthritis outcome scores.
Wong and colleagues17 analyzed 56 knees in 56 patients (mean age, 51 years) with unicompartmental KOA and genu varum. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, MSC and control. All patients underwent high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and microfracture. Patients in the MSC group received intra-articular injection of cultured MSCs with hyaluronic acid (HA) 3 weeks after surgery. Patients in the control group received only HA. The primary outcome measure was International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were Tegner and Lysholm clinical scores and 1-year postoperative Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scores. Both treatment arms achieved improvements in Tegner, Lysholm, and IKDC scores. After adjustment for age, baseline scores, and time of evaluation, the MSC group had significantly better scores. One year after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed significantly better MOCART scores for the MSC group. Intra-articular injection of MSCs appeared to be effective in improving short-term clinical and MOCART outcomes in patients who underwent HTO and microfracture for varus knees with cartilage defects.
Saw and colleagues18 compared histologic and MRI evaluation of articular cartilage regeneration in patients with chondral lesions treated by arthroscopic subchondral drilling followed by postoperative intra-articular injections of HA with and without peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). Fifty patients (ages, 18-50 years) with International Cartilage Repair Society grades 3 and 4 lesions of the knee joint underwent arthroscopic subchondral drilling; 25 patients were randomized to the intervention group (HA + PBSC) and 25 to the control group (HA). Both groups received 5 weekly injections starting 1 week after surgery. Three additional injections of either HA + PBSC or HA only were given at weekly intervals 6 months after surgery. After arthroscopic subchondral drilling into grades 3 and 4 chondral lesions, postoperative intra-articular injections of autologous PBSC combined with HA resulted in improved quality of articular cartilage repair over the same treatment without PBSC.
The other human studies analyzed had a low level of evidence (grade IV, case series) but found that intra-articular injections of MSCs reduced pain and improved function in patients with KOA over the short term, 1 year (Appendix 3).19-25
Discussion
This review aimed to define the role of MSC therapy in the treatment of KOA. MSC therapy has yielded encouraging outcomes in experimental models of KOA.4-15 These experimental studies have suggested that MSCs can halt cartilage degeneration in KOA. So far, however, only 3 human studies with grade II evidence (randomized prospective trials) have been reported on the role of MSCs in KOA, but results of these studies have suggested that MSCs can reduce pain and improve function.16-18
Previous reviews of the literature1,2 have analyzed the role of MSC therapy in KOA. Barry and Murphy1 reported that several early-stage clinical trials, initiated or under way in 2013, were testing MSC delivery as an intra-articular injection into the knee, but optimal dose and vehicle were yet to be established. Filardo and colleagues2 reported that, despite growing interest in this biological approach to cartilage regeneration, knowledge on the topic is still preliminary, as shown by the prevalence of preclinical studies and the presence of low-quality clinical studies.
Study design weakness prevents effective comparison of the efficacy of MSC therapy with that of other treatments for relief of pain and other outcomes in KOA. The consistency of evidence of the clinical studies is low because of many uncontrolled variables.1-3
Conclusion
The results of MSC therapy in KOA are encouraging. However, optimal dose and vehicle are yet to be established.1 Knowledge on this topic is still preliminary. Many aspects have to be optimized, and further randomized controlled trials are needed to support the potential of this biological treatment for cartilage repair and to evaluate advantages and disadvantages with respect to the available treatments. The relative short duration of these studies is also a limitation for the technique at present.
1. Barry F, Murphy M. Mesenchymal stem cells in joint disease and repair. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(10):584-594.
2. Filardo G, Madry H, Jelic M, Roffi A, Cucchiarini M, Kon E. Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cartilage lesions: from preclinical findings to clinical application in orthopaedics. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013;21(8):1717-1729.
3. Barry FP. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in joint disease. Novartis Found Symp. 2003;249:86-96.
4. Murphy JM, Fink DJ, Hunziker EB, Barry FP. Stem cell therapy in a caprine model of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(12):3464-3474.
5. Al Faqeh H, Norhamdan MY, Chua KH, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. Cell based therapy for osteoarthritis in a sheep model: gross and histological assessment. Med J Malaysia. 2008;63(suppl A):37-38.
6. Grigolo B, Lisignoli G, Desando G, et al. Osteoarthritis treated with mesenchymal stem cells on hyaluronan-based scaffold in rabbit. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009;15(4):647-658.
7. Toghraie FS, Chenari N, Gholipour MA, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis with infrapatellar fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells in rabbit. Knee. 2011;18(2):71-75.
8. Sato M, Uchida K, Nakajima H, et al. Direct transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joints of Hartley strain guinea pigs with spontaneous osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(1):R31.
9. Suhaeb AM, Naveen S, Mansor A, Kamarul T. Hyaluronic acid with or without bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells improves osteoarthritic knee changes in rat model: a preliminary report. Indian J Exp Biol. 2012;50(6):383-390.
10. Al Faqeh H, Nor Hamdan BM, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic-induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model. Exp Gerontol. 2012;47(6):458-464.
11. Toghraie F, Razmkhah M, Gholipour MA, et al. Scaffold-free adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) improve experimentally induced osteoarthritis in rabbits. Arch Iran Med. 2012;15(8):495-499.
12. ter Huurne M, Schelbergen R, Blattes R, et al. Antiinflammatory and chondroprotective effects of intraarticular injection of adipose-derived stem cells in experimental osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(11):3604-3613.
13. Hatsushika D, Muneta T, Horie M, Koga H, Tsuji K, Sekiya I. Intraarticular injection of synovial stem cells promotes meniscal regeneration in a rabbit massive meniscal defect model. J Orthop Res. 2013;31(9):1354-1359.
14. Park SA, Reilly CM, Wood JA, et al. Safety and immunomodulatory effects of allogeneic canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplanted into the region of the lacrimal gland, the gland of the third eyelid and the knee joint. Cytotherapy. 2013;15(12):1498-1510.
15. Nam H, Karunanithi P, Loo WC, et al. The effects of staged intra-articular injection of cultured autologous mesenchymal stromal cells on the repair of damaged cartilage: a pilot study in caprine model. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(5):R129.
16. Varma HS, Dadarya B, Vidyarthi A. The new avenues in the management of osteo-arthritis of knee—stem cells. J Indian Med Assoc. 2010;108(9):583-585.
17. Wong KL, Lee KB, Tai BC, Law P, Lee EH, Hui JH. Injectable cultured bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells in varus knees with cartilage defects undergoing high tibial osteotomy: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial with 2 years’ follow-up. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(12):2020-2028.
18. Saw KY, Anz A, Siew-Yoke Jee C, et al. Articular cartilage regeneration with autologous peripheral blood stem cells versus hyaluronic acid: a randomized controlled trial. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(4):684-694.
19. Davatchi F, Abdollahi BS, Mohyeddin M, Shahram F, Nikbin B. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Preliminary report of four patients. Int J Rheum Dis. 2011;14(2):211-215.
20. Koh YG, Choi YJ. Infrapatellar fat pad–derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Knee. 2012;19(4):902-907.
21. Orozco L, Munar A, Soler R, et al. Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with autologous mesenchymal stem cells: a pilot study. Transplantation. 2013;95(12):1535-1541.
22. Koh YG, Jo SB, Kwon OR, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell injections improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(4):748-755.
23. Koh YG, Choi YJ, Kwon SK, Kim YS, Yeo JE. Clinical results and second-look arthroscopic findings after treatment with adipose-derived stem cells for knee osteoarthritis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013 Dec 11. [Epub ahead of print].
24. Jo CH, Lee YG, Shin WH, et al. Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a proof-of-concept clinical trial. Stem Cells. 2014;32(5):1254-1266.
25. Gobbi A, Karnatzikos G, Sankineani SR. One-step surgery with multipotent stem cells for the treatment of large full-thickness chondral defects of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 2014;42(3):648-657.
1. Barry F, Murphy M. Mesenchymal stem cells in joint disease and repair. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(10):584-594.
2. Filardo G, Madry H, Jelic M, Roffi A, Cucchiarini M, Kon E. Mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of cartilage lesions: from preclinical findings to clinical application in orthopaedics. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013;21(8):1717-1729.
3. Barry FP. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in joint disease. Novartis Found Symp. 2003;249:86-96.
4. Murphy JM, Fink DJ, Hunziker EB, Barry FP. Stem cell therapy in a caprine model of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(12):3464-3474.
5. Al Faqeh H, Norhamdan MY, Chua KH, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. Cell based therapy for osteoarthritis in a sheep model: gross and histological assessment. Med J Malaysia. 2008;63(suppl A):37-38.
6. Grigolo B, Lisignoli G, Desando G, et al. Osteoarthritis treated with mesenchymal stem cells on hyaluronan-based scaffold in rabbit. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009;15(4):647-658.
7. Toghraie FS, Chenari N, Gholipour MA, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis with infrapatellar fat pad derived mesenchymal stem cells in rabbit. Knee. 2011;18(2):71-75.
8. Sato M, Uchida K, Nakajima H, et al. Direct transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joints of Hartley strain guinea pigs with spontaneous osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(1):R31.
9. Suhaeb AM, Naveen S, Mansor A, Kamarul T. Hyaluronic acid with or without bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells improves osteoarthritic knee changes in rat model: a preliminary report. Indian J Exp Biol. 2012;50(6):383-390.
10. Al Faqeh H, Nor Hamdan BM, Chen HC, Aminuddin BS, Ruszymah BH. The potential of intra-articular injection of chondrogenic-induced bone marrow stem cells to retard the progression of osteoarthritis in a sheep model. Exp Gerontol. 2012;47(6):458-464.
11. Toghraie F, Razmkhah M, Gholipour MA, et al. Scaffold-free adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) improve experimentally induced osteoarthritis in rabbits. Arch Iran Med. 2012;15(8):495-499.
12. ter Huurne M, Schelbergen R, Blattes R, et al. Antiinflammatory and chondroprotective effects of intraarticular injection of adipose-derived stem cells in experimental osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(11):3604-3613.
13. Hatsushika D, Muneta T, Horie M, Koga H, Tsuji K, Sekiya I. Intraarticular injection of synovial stem cells promotes meniscal regeneration in a rabbit massive meniscal defect model. J Orthop Res. 2013;31(9):1354-1359.
14. Park SA, Reilly CM, Wood JA, et al. Safety and immunomodulatory effects of allogeneic canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplanted into the region of the lacrimal gland, the gland of the third eyelid and the knee joint. Cytotherapy. 2013;15(12):1498-1510.
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