Comparison of mesenchymal stem cell sheets and chondrocyte sheets in a rabbit growth plate injury model

Abstract

Background/aim: The treatment of posttraumatic deformities and differences in length between the extremities resulting from physealinjury remains controversial. The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of tissue-engineered, monolayer, and allogeneicmesenchymal stem cell sheets and chondrocyte sheets for physeal arrest treatment and to investigate cell sheet technology as a novelmethod for cell transplantation in physeal cartilage repair.Materials and methods: A proximal tibial physeal injury was induced in New Zealand rabbits. Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) and chondrocytes were cultured in temperature-responsive culture dishes and applied to the iatrogenic partial growth platedefects in single-sheet grafts (cell sheets). Treatment efficacy was determined using radiological measurements, as well as histologicaland immunohistochemical staining.Results: Treatment with MSCs and chondrocytes prevented endochondral ossification in the physeal plate, and bone growth resumedafter treatment in both the MSC and chondrocyte cell groups. We found significant differences in radiological evaluations between preand posttreatment measurements in both MSC and chondrocyte groups. Transplanted cells were observed in the damaged area in bothof the groups, which differentiated in the direction of growth plate cartilage.Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that MSC or chondrocyte transplantation using the cell-sheet technique described inthe present study aids in the regeneration of cartilage tissue during physeal arrest after growth plate damage.