Title:The Potential for Synovium-derived Stem Cells in Cartilage Repair
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Eva Johanna Kubosch*, Gernot Lang, David Furst, David Kubosch, Kaywan Izadpanah, Bernd Rolauffs, Norbert P. Sudkamp and Hagen Schmal
Affiliation:
- Albert-Ludwigs University Medical Center Freiburg, Clinic for Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Freiburg,Germany
Keywords:
Cartilage, mesenchymal stem cell, synovium-derived, synovial, regeneration, cell-based.
Abstract: Background: Articular cartilage defects often result in pain, loss of function and finally
osteoarthritis. Developing cell-based therapies for cartilage repair is a major goal of orthopaedic research.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation is currently the gold standard cell-based surgical procedure
for the treatment of large, isolated, full thickness cartilage defects. Several disadvantages such as
the need for two surgical procedures or hypertrophic regenerative cartilage, underline the need for alternative
cell sources.
Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells, particularly synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells, represent
a promising cell source. Synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells have attracted considerable attention
since they display great chondrogenic potential and less hypertrophic differentiation than mesenchymal
stem cells derived from bone marrow. The aim of this review was to summarize the current
knowledge on the chondrogenic potential for synovial stem cells in regard to cartilage repair purposes.
Results: A literature search was carried out identifying 260 articles in the databases up to January
2017. Several in vitro and initial animal in vivo studies of cartilage repair using synovia stem cell application
showed encouraging results. Since synvoium-derived stem cells are located in the direct vicinity
of cartilage and cartilage lesions these cells might even contribute to natural cartilage regeneration.
The only one published human in vivo study with 10 patients revealed good results concerning
postoperative outcome, MRI, and histologic features after a two-stage implantation of synovial stem
cells into an isolated cartilage defect of the femoral condyle.
Conclusion: Synovium-derived stem cells possess great chondrogenic potential and showed encouraging
results for cartilage repair purposes. Furthermore, synovial stem cells play an important role in joint
homeostasis and possibly in natural cartilage repair. Further studies are needed to elucidate the interplay
of synovial stem cells and chondrocytes, and the promising role of synovium-derived stem cells in
cartilage tissue engineering.