Abstract
Introduction
Very limited treatment options are available for osteoarthritis and most of them are for symptoms of osteoarthritis not for cause. Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have the ability to differentiate into cells of the chondrogenic lineage, have emerged as a candidate cell type with great potential for cell-based articular cartilage repair technologies. We conducted a study to see the effect of direct injection of stem cells on artificially created osteoarthritis model in rabbits.
Methods
Surgical instability was created in 20 adult white rabbits over 16 weeks old and weighing over 2 kg using a modification of the technique of Hulth et al. Only the right knees were operated (with other side serving as control). 12 weeks after surgery, X-rays were done for all 20 rabbits and confirmed for features of osteoarthritis like joint space narrowing, osteophyte formation etc. Bone marrow was aspirated and stem cells were prepared by method of Pittenger et al. Animals were divided into 2 groups of 10 each: Group I (with stem cell infusion) and Group II (control). The radiological evaluation was done at 12 week, 16 weeks, 20 weeks and histological evaluation at 16 and 20 weeks.
Results
Mean radiological score in Group I at 12 week, 16 week and 20 week was 2.20±0.42, 2.8±0.42, 3.0±0.0 respectively. Mean radiological score of controls at 12 week, 16 week and 20 week was 2.40±0.51, 3.4±0.51, 3.8±0.44 respectively. On comparing mean radiological score of Group I and control at 12, 16 and 20 weeks p value comes out to be 0.481, 0.015 and 0.014 respectively, which was statically significant at 16 and 20 week. Mean histological score of Group I at 16 week and 20 week was 4.20±0.44, 5.8±0.83 respectively. Mean histological score of control at 16week and 20 week was 6.00±0.7, 9.4±0.54 respectively. On comparing mean histological score of Group I and Group II at 16 and 20 week p value comes out to be 0.009 and 0.008 respectively which was statistically significant at both 16 and 20 weeks.
Conclusion
Our study using stems cell as treatment option of osteoarthritis has shown significant histopathological and radiological improvement compared to control at both follow up. Stem cells are promising source for treatment of osteoarthritis and neither stem cell culture nor scafolds are absolutely necessary for favourable outcome but larger group and longer followup are required for using stem cells as therapeutic option.
Summary
Direct injection of Stem cells can reduce osteoarthritis and repair articular cartilage in Osteoarthritis.
