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Autologous transplantation of culture-born myofibroblasts into intact and injured rabbit ligaments

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Abstract

Purpose

The myofibroblast, a contractile fibroblastic cell expressing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), has been reported to play a role in ligament healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transplanting culture-derived myofibroblasts in injured rabbit medial collateral ligaments (MCL) and in intact anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).

Methods

Fibroblasts isolated from the iliotibial band were cultured in the presence of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) for five days and analysed for α-SMA expression. In a concentration of TGF-β1 ≥ 10 ng/ml, the differentiation rate into myofibroblast was 90%. After labelling with PKH26, α-SMA -positive cells were transplanted in intact ACL and in injured MCL of ten rabbits.

Results

Survival of PKH-26+ cells was seen in all intact and damaged ligaments one day after injection. The density of PKH-26+ cells had decreased at seven days postinjection in both ligaments. Double-positive PKH-26+/α-SMA+ cells were only observed in injured MCL at seven days postinjection. Moreover, we found that genetically modified fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts and can be transplanted into ligaments.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that culture-born myofibroblasts survive and maintain α-SMA expression up to one week after transplantation. This study provides the first insight into the feasibility of transplanted mechanically active cells for ligament reconstruction.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (NRP 46 n°4046-058639 and grant n°310030_130700/1), by the Fondation suisse de recherche sur les maladies musculaires, by the Research funds of the Geneva Orthopedic Service and by the Foundation Marcel Levaillant.

Conflict of Interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals & Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 4, Rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland

    Thomas Laumonier, Pierre Hoffmeyer & Jacques Menetrey

  2. Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Marlene Michel

  3. Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Giulio Gabbiani & Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat

Authors
  1. Thomas Laumonier
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  2. Marlene Michel
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  3. Giulio Gabbiani
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  4. Pierre Hoffmeyer
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  5. Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat
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  6. Jacques Menetrey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacques Menetrey.

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Laumonier, T., Michel, M., Gabbiani, G. et al. Autologous transplantation of culture-born myofibroblasts into intact and injured rabbit ligaments. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 36, 1733–1738 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-012-1519-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-012-1519-4

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