Articular cartilage regeneration by activated skeletal stem cells.

Journal: 
Nat Med
Publication Year: 
2020
Authors: 
Matthew P Murphy
Lauren S Koepke
Michael T Lopez
Xinming Tong
Thomas H Ambrosi
Gunsagar S Gulati
Owen Marecic
Yuting Wang
Ryan C Ransom
Malachia Y Hoover
Holly Steininger
Liming Zhao
Marcin P Walkiewicz
Natalina Quarto
Benjamin Levi
Derrick C Wan
Irving L Weissman
Stuart B Goodman
Fan Yang
Michael T Longaker
Charles K F Chan
PubMed link: 
32807933
Public Summary: 
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease resulting in irreversible, progressive destruction of articular cartilage(1). The etiology of OA is complex and involves a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, acute injury and chronic inflammation(2-4). Here we investigate the ability of resident skeletal stem-cell (SSC) populations to regenerate cartilage in relation to age, a possible contributor to the development of osteoarthritis(5-7). We demonstrate that aging is associated with progressive loss of SSCs and diminished chondrogenesis in the joints of both mice and humans. However, a local expansion of SSCs could still be triggered in the chondral surface of adult limb joints in mice by stimulating a regenerative response using microfracture (MF) surgery. Although MF-activated SSCs tended to form fibrous tissues, localized co-delivery of BMP2 and soluble VEGFR1 (sVEGFR1), a VEGF receptor antagonist, in a hydrogel skewed differentiation of MF-activated SSCs toward articular cartilage. These data indicate that following MF, a resident stem-cell population can be induced to generate cartilage for treatment of localized chondral disease in OA.
Scientific Abstract: 
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease resulting in irreversible, progressive destruction of articular cartilage(1). The etiology of OA is complex and involves a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, acute injury and chronic inflammation(2-4). Here we investigate the ability of resident skeletal stem-cell (SSC) populations to regenerate cartilage in relation to age, a possible contributor to the development of osteoarthritis(5-7). We demonstrate that aging is associated with progressive loss of SSCs and diminished chondrogenesis in the joints of both mice and humans. However, a local expansion of SSCs could still be triggered in the chondral surface of adult limb joints in mice by stimulating a regenerative response using microfracture (MF) surgery. Although MF-activated SSCs tended to form fibrous tissues, localized co-delivery of BMP2 and soluble VEGFR1 (sVEGFR1), a VEGF receptor antagonist, in a hydrogel skewed differentiation of MF-activated SSCs toward articular cartilage. These data indicate that following MF, a resident stem-cell population can be induced to generate cartilage for treatment of localized chondral disease in OA.