npj Regenerative Medicine (Dec 2022)

Polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheet transplantation with high tibial osteotomy as regenerative therapy for knee osteoarthritis

  • Kosuke Hamahashi,
  • Eriko Toyoda,
  • Miya Ishihara,
  • Genya Mitani,
  • Tomonori Takagaki,
  • Nagatoshi Kaneshiro,
  • Miki Maehara,
  • Takumi Takahashi,
  • Eri Okada,
  • Ayako Watanabe,
  • Yoshihiko Nakamura,
  • Reiko Kato,
  • Ryo Matoba,
  • Takehiko Takagi,
  • Hidenori Akutsu,
  • Akihiro Umezawa,
  • Hiroyuki Kobayashi,
  • Tadashi Akamatsu,
  • Masayuki Yamato,
  • Teruo Okano,
  • Masahiko Watanabe,
  • Masato Sato

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-022-00272-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Allogeneic cell therapies are not fully effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). We recently reported that transplantation of autologous chondrocyte cell-sheets along with open-wedge high tibial osteotomy promoted hyaline cartilage repair in humans. Here we describe our regenerative therapy for OAK using polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheets (PD sheets) and temperature-responsive culture inserts. Ten patients with OAK and cartilage defects categorized arthroscopically as Outerbridge grade III or IV received the therapy. Cartilage viscoelasticity and thickness were assessed before and after transplantation. Arthroscopic biopsies obtained 12 months after transplantation were analyzed histologically. Gene expression was analyzed to evaluate the PD sheets. In this small initial longitudinal series, PD sheet transplantation was effective in treating OAK, as indicated by changes in cartilage properties. Gene marker sets in PD sheets may predict outcomes after therapy and provide markers for the selection of donor cells. This combined surgery may be an ideal regenerative therapy with disease-modifying effects in OAK patients.