Researchers from Japan have successfully transferred basic fibroblast growth factor gene into isolated rabbit chondrocytes. Transplantation of the autologous gene-transduced chondrocytes showed “a clear beneficial effect on the repair of rabbit articular cartilage defects”, Naoki Yokoo and his colleagues report in the January issue of “Arthritis and Rheumatism”.
The team from the Yokohama City University School of Medicine used a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector to transfer basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene to cultured chondrocytes. After this procedure, the mean concentration of bFGF, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was significantly increased in gene-transduced cells compared with control cells. Finally bFGF-transduced chondrocytes were embedded in collagen gel and transplanted into a full-thickness defect in the articular cartilage of the patellar groove of 10-week-old rabbits.
The authors evaluated cartilage repair histologically at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transplantation. Semiquantitative histologic scoring indicated a significantly better regeneration in the gene-transduced group throughout the observation period. Yokoo reports, that the "histologic appearance of the transplant site in the bFGF-transduced group was fully repaired compared with the control group." Direct therapeutic gene delivery by an ex vivo method “to the surface of the abnormal articular cartilage in order to accelerate cartilage repair could result in a long-term treatment”, the Japanese experts conclude. AG
Arthritis Rheum (2005); 52: 164-170
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