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ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of dermatan sulphate (DS) addition to biodegradable methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) substituted polylactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffolds for cartilage repair in vitro and in vivo.
Human chondrocytes from eight patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were isolated and cultured in 5% oxygen on MPEG-PLGA scaffolds±DS for one, three, seven and 14 days. Analyses were performed using quantitative gene expression analysis for chondrogenic and cell attachment markers. An osteochondral drill hole defect was created in the intertrochlear groove of the distal femur in 20 New Zealand white rabbits (defects n=20). When bleeding was observed, the defects were treated with MPEG-PLGA scaffolds±DS. Twelve weeks after surgery the rabbits were sacrificed and the defects were analysed using histological grading with O'Driscoll scoring.
DS addition to MPEG-PLGA scaffolds resulted in a significant upregulation of fibronectin gene expression on day 1. No differences were observed in chondrogenic gene expression. There were no differences between the two groups in histological grading (+DS 10.3 and -DS 9.6).
Upregulation of fibronectin in vitro indicating early cell-scaffold interaction and attachment did not result in improved cartilage repair in an osteochondral defect model in rabbits.
International Orthopaedics 01/2012; 36(7):1507-13. · 2.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In vitro expansion of autologous chondrocytes is an essential part of many clinically used cartilage repair treatments. Native chondrocytes reside in a 3-dimensional (3D) network and are exposed to low levels of oxygen. We compared monolayer culture to combined 3D and hypoxic culture using quantitative gene expression analysis.
Cartilage biopsies were collected from the intercondylar groove in the distal femur from 12 patients with healthy cartilage. Cells were used for either monolayer or scaffold culture. The scaffolds were clinically available MPEG-PLGA scaffolds (ASEED). After harvesting of cells for baseline investigation, the remainder was divided into 3 groups for incubation in conditions of normoxia (21% oxygen), hypoxia (5% oxygen), or severe hypoxia (1% oxygen). RNA extractions were performed 1, 2, and 6 days after the baseline time point, respectively. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed using assays for RNA encoding collagen types 1 and 2, aggrecan, sox9, ankyrin repeat domain-37, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase relative to 2 hypoxia-stable housekeeping genes.
Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen type 2 RNA expression increased with reduced oxygen. On day 6, the expression of collagen type 2 and aggrecan RNA was higher in 3D culture than in monolayer culture.
Our findings suggest that there was a combined positive effect of 3D culture and hypoxia on cartilage-specific gene expression. The positive effects of 3D culture alone were not detected until day 6, suggesting that seeding of chondrocytes onto a scaffold for matrix-assisted chondrocyte implantation should be performed earlier than 2 days before implantation.
Acta Orthopaedica 03/2011; 82(2):234-40. · 2.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hypoxic culturing of chondrocytes is gaining increasing interest in cartilage research. Culturing of chondrocytes under low oxygen tension has shown several advantages, among them increased synthesis of extracellular matrix and increased redifferentiation of dedifferentiated chondrocytes. Quantitative gene expression analyses such as quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) are powerful tools in the investigation of underlying mechanisms of cell behavior and are used routinely for differentiation and phenotype assays. However, the genes used for normalization in normoxic cell-cultures might not be suitable in the hypoxic environment. The objective of this study was to determine hypoxia-stable housekeeping genes (HKG) for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in human chondrocytes cultured in 21%, 5% and 1% oxygen by geNorm and NormFinder analyses.
The chondrocytic response to the hypoxic challange was validated by a significant increase in expression of the hypoxia-inducible gene ankyrin repeat 37 as well as SOX9 in hypoxia. When cultured on the 3-dimentional (3D) scaffold TATA-binding protein (TBP) exhibited the highest expression stability with NormFinder while Ribosomal protein L13a (RPL13A) and beta2-microglobulin (B2M) were the most stable using geNorm analysis. In monolayer RPL13A were the most stable gene using NormFinder, while geNorm assessed RPL13A and human RNA polymerase II (RPII) as most stable. When examining the combination of (3D) culturing and monolayer RPL13A and B2M showed the highest expression stability from geNorm analysis while RPL13A also showed the highest expression stability using NormFinder. Often used HKG such as beta actin (ACTB) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were the most unstable genes investigated in all comparisons. The pairwise variations for the two most stable HKG in each group were all below the cut-off value of 0.15, suggesting that the two most stable HKG from geNorm analysis would be sufficient for qRT-PCR.
All data combined we recommend RPL13A, B2M and RPII as the best choice for qRT-PCR analyses when comparing normoxic and hypoxic cultured human chondrocytes although other genes might also be suitable. However, the matching of HKG to target genes by means of a thorough investigation of the stability in each study would always be preferable.
BMC Molecular Biology 10/2009; 10:94. · 2.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Reconstruction of flexor tendons often results in adhesions that compromise joint flexion. Little is known about the factors involved in the formation of flexor tendon graft adhesions. In this study, we developed and characterized a novel mouse model of flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon reconstruction with live autografts or reconstituted freeze-dried allografts. Grafted tendons were evaluated at multiple time points up to 84 days post-reconstruction. To assess the flexion range of the metatarsophalangeal joint, we developed a quantitative outcome measure proportional to the resistance to tendon gliding due to adhesions, which we termed the Gliding Coefficient. At 14 days post-grafting, the Gliding Coefficient was 29- and 26-fold greater than normal FDL tendon for both autografts and allografts, respectively (p < 0.001), and subsequently doubled for 28-day autografts. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in maximum tensile force or stiffness between live autograft and freeze-dried allograft repairs over time. Histologically, autograft healing was characterized by extensive remodeling and exuberant scarring around both the ends and the body of the graft, whereas allograft scarring was abundant only near the graft-host junctions. Gene expression of GDF-5 and VEGF were significantly increased in 28-day autografts compared to allografts and to normal tendons. These results suggest that the biomechanical advantages for tendon reconstruction using live autografts over devitalized allografts are minimal. This mouse model can be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanisms in tendon repair and can aid in preliminary screening of molecular treatments of flexor tendon adhesions.
Journal of Orthopaedic Research 06/2008; 26(6):824-33. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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Patrick Basile,
Tulin Dadali,
Justin Jacobson,
Sys Hasslund, Michael Ulrich-Vinther,
Kjeld Søballe,
Yasuhiko Nishio,
M Hicham Drissi,
Howard N Langstein,
David J Mitten,
Regis J O'Keefe,
Edward M Schwarz,
Hani A Awad
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ABSTRACT: Tendon reconstruction using grafts often results in adhesions that limit joint flexion. These adhesions are precipitated by inflammation, fibrosis, and the paucity of tendon differentiation signals during healing. In order to study this problem, we developed a mouse model in which the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon is reconstructed using a live autograft or a freeze-dried allograft, and identified growth and differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5) as a therapeutic target. In this study we have investigated the potential of rAAV-Gdf5 -loaded freeze-dried tendon allografts as "therapeutically endowed" tissue-engineering scaffolds to reduce adhesions. In reporter gene studies we have demonstrated that recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-loaded tendon allografts mediate efficient transduction of adjacent soft tissues, with expression peaking at 7 days. We have also demonstrated that the rAAV-Gdf5 vector significantly accelerates wound healing in an in vitro fibroblast scratch model and, when loaded onto freeze-dried FDL tendon allografts, improves the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint flexion to a significantly greater extent than the rAAV-lacZ controls do. Collectively, our data demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of therapeutic tendon allograft processing as a novel paradigm in tissue engineering in order to address difficult clinical problems such as tendon adhesions.
Molecular Therapy 04/2008; 16(3):466-73. · 6.87 Impact Factor
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Michael Ulrich-Vinther
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Gene therapy is a technique that draws on the introduction of new genes into cells for the purpose of treating disease by restoring or adding gene expression. Numerous growth factors and other proteins with the ability to promote the regeneration of tissues in the locomotive system have been identified, but their clinical use is often hindered by delivery problems. In principle, these problems can be overcome by delivering the relevant genes, as the therapeutic substances thereby can be persistently produced directly by local cells at the site of diseases. HEALING OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE: Articular chondrocytes are receptive to transduction using various gene delivery methods. Following genetic modification, they are capable of sustained expression of transgene products at biologically relevant levels. Our research has proved the AAV vector to be an effective tool for gene delivery to articular chondrocytes in vitro as well as in vivo. To this end, we have demonstrated that the AAV vector mediated TGFbeta1-overexpression stimulates cartilage anabolism. WEAR DEBRIS-INDUCED OSTEOLYSIS: The RANKL system may be a key therapeutic target in treatment of aseptic periprosthetic loosening. We investigated whether gene transfer of OPG using an AAV vector has protective effects against orthopaedic wear debris-induced bone loss. In osteoclastogenesis and in bone wafer resorption assays, the bioactivity of the transgene OPG was proven by depletion of osteoclastogenesis and reduced bone resorption. Using an in vivo model of debris-induced bone resorption, we demonstrated complete inhibition of osteolysis in animals receiving AAV-OPG gene therapy. FRACTURE HEALING IN RELATION TO OSTEOPOROSIS: The success of future OPG treatment of osteoporosis is highly dependent on its effects on fracture healing and remodelling. Using an in vivo fracture healing model, our studies demonstrated that AAV-OPG gene therapy did not conflict with normal bone healing, in contrast to high-dosage intravenous treatment with OPG. However, AAV-OPG therapy depressed remodelling and integration of the genuine cortical bone at the fracture line. STRUCTURAL BONE ALLOGRAFT HEALING: Structural bone allografts often fracture due to their lack of osteogenic and remodelling potiential. To overcome these limitations, we utilized allografts coated with AAV-caALK2 vector that mediated in vivo gene transfer. We showed that the AAV vector was capable of transducing adjacent inflammatory cells and osteoblasts in the fracture callus and that BMP signals delivered via AAV-caALK2 coating induced bone formation directly on the cortical surface of the allograft. CONCLUSION: The presented research may be seen as initial steps towards development of gene therapeutic treatment options for complex orthopaedic diseases. As such, our studies represent proof-of-principle that the rAAV vector promotes efficient gene transfer in vitro to a spectrum of cells with orthopaedic relevance, and that in vivo targeting of somatic tissue with a single administration of a rAAV vector at the time of surgery could be sufficient for long-term expression of therapeutic proteins. Essential to the future success of transgene delivery by rAAV vectors is the absence of an immune response to either the vector or the gene product. Furthermore, development of rAAV vectors with regulatory gene expression needs further attention in future research.
Acta orthopaedica. Supplementum 04/2007; 78(325):1-64.
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ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received considerable attention in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. One aspect of MSC research focuses on genetically modifying the cells with the aim of enhancing their regenerative potential. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) holds promise as a vector for human gene therapy, primarily due to its lack of pathogenicity and low risk of insertional mutagenesis. However, the existing data pertaining to AAV transduction of MSCs is limited. The objective of this work was to examine the efficiency and kinetics of in vitro transduction using AAV serotype 2 in human MSCs and to assess whether AAV transduction affects MSC multipotentiality. The results indicated that human MSCs could indeed be transiently transduced in vitro by the AAV2 vector with efficiencies of up to 65%. The percentage of GFP-positive cells peaked at 4 days post-transduction and declined rapidly towards 0% after day 8. The level of transgene expression in the GFP-positive population increased 4-fold over a 10,000 fold viral dose increase. This dose-response contrasted with the 200-fold increase observed in similarly transduced 293-cells, indicating a relatively restricted transgene expression in MSCs following AAV mediated gene delivery. Importantly, transduced MSCs retained multipotential activity comparable to untransduced controls.
European cells & materials 02/2007; 13:93-9; discussion 99. · 3.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The influence of nicotine and tobacco extract (without nicotine) alone and in combination on and mechanical strength of closed femoral fractures in rats was investigated. One hundred four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups receiving: nicotine, tobacco extract, tobacco extract plus nicotine, and saline. One week prior to fracture, osmotic pumps were implanted subcutaneously in all animals to administer nicotine equivalent to the serum level of nicotine observed in a smoker consuming one to two packs of cigarettes daily. An equivalent volume of saline was administered to the control animals. Tobacco extract was administered orally. A closed transverse femoral diaphysial fracture was performed, and stabilized with an intramedullary pin. The fractures were mechanically tested after 21 days of healing. Tobacco extract alone decreased the mechanical strength. Ultimate torque and torque at yield point of the tobacco extract group were decreased by 21% (p=0.010) and 23% (p=0.056), respectively, compared with the vehicle (saline) group, and by 20% (p=0.023) and 26% (p=0.004), respectively, compared with the nicotine group. No difference was found between the tobacco extract and tobacco extract plus nicotine groups. An 18% (p=0.013) reduction in torque at yield point was observed in the tobacco extract plus nicotine group compared with the nicotine group. No differences in ultimate stiffness, energy absorption, and callus bone mineral content at the fracture line were found between any of the groups. Serum levels of nicotine were between 40-50 ng/mL in the group given nicotine alone and the group given tobacco extract plus nicotine (equivalent to serum levels observed in persons smoking one to two packs of cigarettes per day).
Journal of Orthopaedic Research 08/2006; 24(7):1472-9. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide an excellent source of pluripotent progenitor cells for tissue-engineering applications due to their proliferation capacity and differentiation potential. Genetic modification of MSCs with genes encoding tissue-specific growth factors and cytokines can induce and maintain lineage-specific differentiation. Due to anatomical and physiological similarities to humans, porcine research models have been proven valuable for the preclinical testing of tissue engineering protocols in large animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate optimized viral and non-viral ex vivo gene delivery systems with respect to gene transfer efficiency, maintenance of transgene expression, and safety issues using primary porcine MSCs as target cells.
MSCs were purified from bone marrow aspirates from the proximal tibiae of four 3-month-old Danish landrace pigs by Ficoll step gradient separation and polystyrene adherence technique. Vectors expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were transferred to the cells by different non-viral methods and by use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated and retroviral gene delivery. Each method for gene delivery was optimized. Gene transfer efficiency was compared on the basis of eGFP expression as assessed by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-activated flow cytometry. BMP-2 gene expression and osteogenic differentiation were evaluated by realtime quantitative RT-PCR and histochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively.
Non-viral gene delivery methods resulted in transient eGFP expression by less than 2% of the cells. Using high titer rAAV-based vector up to 90% of the cells were transiently transduced. The efficiency of rAAV-mediated gene delivery was proportional to the rAAV vector titer applied. Retroviral gene delivery resulted in long-term transgene expression of porcine MSCs. A 26-fold increase in percentage of eGFP expressing cells (1.7%+/-0.2% versus 44.1% +/-5.0%, mean +/-SD) and a 68-fold increase in mean fluorescence intensity (327.4+/-56.6 versus 4.8+/-1.3) was observed by centrifugation of retroviral particles onto the target cell layer. Porcine MSCs that were BMP-2 transduced by optimized retroviral gene delivery demonstrated a significant increase in BMP-2 gene expression and showed increased osteogenic differentiation. Retrovirally transduced porcine MSCs were furthermore tested free of replication-competent viruses.
The non-viral gene transfer methods applied were significantly less efficient compared to the viral methods tested. However, due to advantages with respect to safety issues and ease of handling, improvement of non-viral gene delivery to primary MSCs deserves further attention. The high efficiency of rAAV-mediated gene delivery observed at high titers can be explained by the ability of rAAV vector to transduce nondividing cells and by its tropism towards porcine MSCs. rAAV-mediated gene delivery resulted in transient transgene expression due to lack of stable AAV genome integration. MLV-mediated retroviral gene delivery can be considered a safe method for long-term transgene expression by porcine MSCs, and is therefore particularly attractive for advanced tissue engineering strategies requiring extended transgene expression.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology 02/2006; 585:31-48. · 1.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a naturally occurring protein, which prevents bone resorption by inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, function, and survival. Therefore, recombinant OPG may be an attractive drug in the treatment of chronic bone resorptive diseases such as osteoporosis. Gene therapy has the potential to achieve long-term treatment by delivering genes of anti-resorptive proteins to the recipient. The effects of OPG gene therapy on fracture healing have not been described previously. The influence of OPG gene therapy on callus formation, callus tissue structural strength, apparent material properties, and histology of tibia fractures in rats was investigated after 3 weeks and 8 weeks of healing. Intramuscular administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated OPG resulted in increased levels of OPG in serum of approximately 100 ng/ml throughout the study period. Control animals with fractures received transduction with an AAV reporter gene construct (AAV-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)), and in this group serum OPG levels remained at baseline (<10 ng/ml). After 3 weeks of healing, AAV-OPG treatment reduced the number of osteoclasts in the callus tissue (33%, P < 0.001). However, AAV-OPG treatment did not influence callus dimensions, callus bone mineral content (BMC), fracture structural strength, or apparent callus tissue material properties. After 8 weeks of healing, AAV-OPG treatment reduced the number of osteoclasts in the callus tissue (31%, P < 0.001) compared with AAV-eGFP fractures. Furthermore, deposition of new woven bone at the fracture line of the original cortical bone was hampered (new woven bone present: in all AAV-eGFP animals, in 41% of AAV-OPG-treated animals, P < 0.001). AAV-OPG treatment also increased callus BMC (18%, P = 0.023) compared with AAV-eGFP fractures. AAV-OPG did not influence callus dimensions, structural strength of the fractures, or ultimate stress, whereas elastic modulus was reduced in the AAV-OPG groups (37%, P = 0.039). The experiment demonstrates that AAV-OPG gene therapy decreases the fracture remodeling, but this does not influence the structural strength of healing fractures.
Bone 12/2005; 37(6):751-8. · 4.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Articular cartilage is a complex tissue with a limited endogenous repair capacity. Surgical strategies to stimulate repair of damaged cartilage are presently evolving extensively. New techniques based on tissue-engineering principles with cultured cells and scaffolds are challenging established techniques based on generating a repair response from the bone marrow. This paper reviews treatments such as debridement, marrow-stimulating techniques, osteochondral transplantation and autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Debridement and marrow stimulation can provide significant relief of symptoms. Recently, randomized studies have uncovered some of the clinical effects of the new biotechnology-based surgical methods. However, no significant advances over the established surgical techniques have been developed.
Ugeskrift for laeger 11/2005; 167(40):3763-7.
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Mette Koefoed,
Hiromu Ito,
Kirill Gromov,
David G Reynolds,
Hani A Awad,
Paul T Rubery, Michael Ulrich-Vinther,
Kjeld Soballe,
Robert E Guldberg,
Angela S P Lin,
Regis J O'Keefe,
Xinping Zhang,
Edward M Schwarz
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ABSTRACT: Structural bone allografts often fracture due to their lack of osteogenic and remodeling potential. To overcome these limitations, we utilized allografts coated with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) that mediate in vivo gene transfer. Using beta-galactosidase as a reporter gene, we show that 4-mm murine femoral allografts coated with rAAV-LacZ are capable of transducing adjacent inflammatory cells and osteoblasts in the fracture callus following transplantation. While this LacZ vector had no effect on allograft healing, bone morphogenetic protein signals delivered via rAAV-caAlk2 coating induced endochondral bone formation directly on the cortical surface of the allograft by day 14. By day 28 there was evidence of remodeling of the new woven bone and massive osteoclastic resorption of the cortical surface of the rAAV-caAlk2-coated allografts only. Micro-CT analysis of rAAV-LacZ- vs rAAV-caAlk2-coated allografts after 42 days of healing demonstrated a significant increase in new bone formation (0.67 +/- 0.21 vs 2.49 +/- 0.40 mm(3); P < 0.005). Furthermore, the 3D micro-CT images of femurs grafted with rAAV-Alk2-coated allografts provided the first evidence that complete bridging of bone around a cortical allograft is possible. These results indicate that cell-free, rAAV-coated allografts have the potential to revitalize in vivo following transplantation.
Molecular Therapy 08/2005; 12(2):212-8. · 6.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As dominant regulators of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, receptor activator of NFkappaB (RANK), receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand, and OPG have been identified as ideal drug targets for the treatment of metabolic bone disease. One concern regarding the therapeutic use of RANK signaling inhibitors is their effect on fracture healing. Therefore we tested if uncoupling and osteoclast depletion via RANK blockade affects callus formation, maturation and matrix remodeling, as well as union rates in a mouse tibia fracture model. Low dose (1 mg/kg i.p.) RANK:Fc therapy had no effect on callus formation, matrix maturation and remodeling, and resulted in 100% bony union by day 28. High dose RANK:Fc treatment (10 mg/kg i.p.) effectively eliminated osteoclasts at the fracture site on day 14, with no significant effects on fracture healing. When therapy was discontinued, normal numbers of osteoclasts were observed at the fracture site by day 28. However, continuous therapy resulted in a large osteopetrotic callus consisting of both mineralized and unmineralized matrix that was void of osteoclasts, but bony union was unaffected at day 28. We also evaluated this process in the complete absence of RANK signaling using RANK -/- mice. These animals exhibited significant radiographic and histologic evidence of callus formation, indicating that RANK signaling is not required for fracture callus formation. However, only 33% of RANK -/- animals formed bony unions compared to 100% of the osteopetrotic control mice. This defect was most likely a result of decreased blood flow, as evidenced by fewer blood vessels in the RANK -/- animals. Together, these data imply that osteoclast depletion via inhibition of RANK signaling is a viable option for the treatment of pathological bone loss since no adverse effects on fracture healing are observed when therapy is discontinued.
Journal of Orthopaedic Research 08/2003; 21(4):676-84. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: As dominant regulators of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, receptor activator of NFκB (RANK), receptor activator of NFκB ligand, and OPG have been identified as ideal drug targets for the treatment of metabolic bone disease. One concern regarding the therapeutic use of RANK signaling inhibitors is their effect on fracture healing. Therefore we tested if uncoupling and osteoclast depletion via RANK blockade affects callus formation, maturation and matrix remodeling, as well as union rates in a mouse tibia fracture model. Low dose (1 mg/kg i.p.) RANK:Fc therapy had no effect on callus formation, matrix maturation and remodeling, and resulted in 100% bony union by day 28. High dose RANK:Fc treatment (10 mg/kg i.p.) effectively eliminated osteoclasts at the fracture site on day 14, with no significant effects on fracture healing. When therapy was discontinued, normal numbers of osteoclasts were observed at the fracture site by day 28. However, continuous therapy resulted in a large osteopetrotic callus consisting of both mineralized and unmineralized matrix that was void of osteoclasts, but bony union was unaffected at day 28. We also evaluated this process in the complete absence of RANK signaling using RANK -/- mice. These animals exhibited significant radiographic and histologic evidence of callus formation, indicating that RANK signaling is not required for fracture callus formation. However, only 33% of RANK -/- animals formed bony unions compared to 100% of the osteopetrotic control mice. This defect was most likely a result of decreased blood flow, as evidenced by fewer blood vessels in the RANK -/- animals. Together, these data imply that osteoclast depletion via inhibition of RANK signaling is a viable option for the treatment of pathological bone loss since no adverse effects on fracture healing are observed when therapy is discontinued. © 2003 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Journal of Orthopaedic Research 06/2003; 21(4):676 - 684. · 2.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light as an adjuvant for recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transduction in human articular chondrocytes.
Primary articular chondrocytes and immortalized chondrocytes (tsT/AC62) were exposed to various doses of UV light (0-1,000 J/m(2)) and infected at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs) with rAAV containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene. Cells were analyzed for viability and EGFP expression by fluorescence-activated cell sorting on days 2, 4, and 8 following infection. To evaluate the transduction efficiency in intact articular cartilage, full-thickness explants were exposed to UV light (0-200 J/m(2)), infected with rAAV-eGFP, and analyzed for transduction via immunohistochemistry.
Toxicity from UV exposure was observed at doses > or =500 J/m(2) and > or =200 J/m(2) in primary and immortalized chondrocyte cultures, respectively. Transduction efficiency was dependent on the UV dose, MOI, and time. In the cell line, the adjuvant effect of UV on the percentage of cells transduced was modest, but 100 J/m(2) increased the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the transduced cells 4-fold. In contrast, UV treatment had a profound effect on the transduction efficiency of primary chondrocytes, which reached approximately 100% after exposure to 100 J/m(2) of UV light and 10(3) MOIs for 8 days. Under the same conditions, 200 J/m(2) of UV light enhanced the MFI 7-fold. In cartilage explants, there was no difference in the number of transduced chondrocytes at the edge of the explants in the superficial, intermediate, or basal zones; however, 200 J/m(2) of UV light increased the transduction efficiency 2-fold at a low MOI. In the center of the explants, the superficial chondrocytes were efficiently transduced; those in the intermediate and basal zones could not be efficiently transduced under any condition. In the superficial chondrocytes, a low MOI and 200 J/m(2) of UV light increased the transduction efficiency 3-fold (to 100%).
UV light at doses of up to 200 J/m(2) (which do not significantly affect cell viability) significantly enhances the transduction efficiency and expression of the transduced gene in cultures of rAAV-infected primary chondrocytes and in chondrocytes in the superficial zone of intact articular cartilage. These findings support the concept that UV-activated gene transduction could be used as an adjuvant for in vivo rAAV articular cartilage gene therapy with low viral titers to prevent and/or treat arthritis.
Arthritis & Rheumatism 09/2002; 46(8):2095-104. · 7.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aseptic loosening of orthopaedic implants secondary to wear debris-induced osteolysis is a serious problem. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a natural decoy protein that inhibits osteoclast activation and bone resorption. This study investigated whether gene therapy using a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector that expresses OPG can inhibit wear debris-induced osteolysis.
A recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector co-expressing OPG (rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP) was generated. A control vector expressing b-galactosidase (rAAV-LacZ) was also prepared. In vitro validation experiments were performed to determine rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP transduction efficiency, OPG expression level and function in bone wafer, and osteoclastic activity. The effect of rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP in vivo gene therapy on wear debris-induced osteolysis was then evaluated in a mouse calvarial model in which a single intramuscular injection of the vector was administered prior to the introduction of the wear debris. The effects of the rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP gene therapy on wear debris-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption were determined by histomorphometry on day 10.
In vitro experiments revealed that 100% of human embryonic kidney 293 cells were transduced at a multiplicity of infection of 1000 with both rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP and rAAV-LacZ. At a rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP multiplicity of infection of 1000, an OPG concentration of 135 ng/mL of culture media was achieved after four days. Using a bone-wafer assay for osteoclast activity, we found that treatment with rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP reduced resorption sevenfold compared with parathyroid hormone-stimulated controls and elevenfold compared with rAAV-LacZ controls. Furthermore, a seventeenfold decrease in RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced splenocyte osteoclastogenesis was observed in co-cultures containing rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP-infected fibroblasts. In vivo administration of rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP resulted in detectable transduction of myocytes at the injection site and a significant increase in expression of serum OPG levels by the second day (p < 0.05). Maximal concentrations were obtained on day 6 and then leveled off throughout the observation period. In contrast, serum OPG could not be detected in the sham-treated, uninfected titanium-stimulated, or rAAV-LacZ-infected mice. In the control mice, titanium implantation resulted in a threefold increase in the mean number of osteoclasts adjacent to the sagittal suture as well as a twofold increase in the mean area of soft tissue in the sagittal suture compared with the sham-treated mice. In contrast, osteoclast numbers remained at basal levels, and the area of soft tissue in the sagittal suture was markedly reduced in titanium-implanted animals that received rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP treatment, demonstrating a complete inhibition of osteolysis in response to titanium particles.
A single intramuscular injection of the rAAV-OPG-IRES-EGFP vector can efficiently transduce myocytes to produce high levels of OPG. The OPG effectively inhibits wear debris-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteolysis. Clinical Relevance: Currently, there is no approved drug therapy to prevent or inhibit periprosthetic osteolysis. Although preclinical studies have identified potential drug therapies (i.e., bisphosphonates), there is no evidence that these drugs can effectively treat aseptic loosening in patients. This is the first evidence that in vivo OPG gene therapy can be used to prevent wear debris-induced osteolysis.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 08/2002; 84-A(8):1405-12. · 3.27 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Articular cartilage is a complex tissue maintained by chondrocytes, which undergo metabolic changes as a result of aging, disease, and injury. These changes may hinder tissue maintenance and repair, resulting in accelerated loss of articular surface and leading to end-stage arthritis. Researchers are investigating both normal and pathologic cellular and molecular processes as well as the development of chondroprotective agents to improve the metabolic function of articular cartilage. Current research is helping to clarify the mechanisms by which a variety of agents, such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, green tea, glucocorticoids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can modify the symptoms and course of osteoarthritis. Also under investigation are methods of stimulating repair or replacing damaged cartilage, such as matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, gene therapy, growth factors, cytokine inhibitors, and artificial cartilage substitutes. Tissue engineering, the combining of artificial matrices with cells and growth factors or genes, offers great potential for improving patient care.
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 11(6):421-30. · 2.66 Impact Factor
