This paper describes the preparation and evaluation of umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stem cells spheroids with a bilateral patellar tendon defect model in a rat. This model was associated with an acceptable morbidity and was found to detect differences between untreated and treated tendons, and between the two treatments tested.
A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.
Method Article
Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Regenerative medicine provides novel alternatives to conditions that challenge traditional treatments. The prevalence and morbidity of tendinopathy across species, combined with the limited healing properties of this tissue, have prompted the search for cellular therapies and propelled the development of experimental models to study their efficacy. Umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCM-MSC) are appealing candidates because they are abundant, easy to collect, circumvent the ethical concerns and risk of teratoma formation, yet resemble primitive embryonic stem cells more closely than adult tissue-derived MSCs. Significant interest has focused on chitosan as a strategy to enhance the properties of MSCs through spheroid formation. This paper details techniques to isolate UCM-MSCs, prepare spheroids on chitosan film, and analyze the effect of spheroid formation on surface marker expression. Consequently, creation of a bilateral patellar tendon injury model in rats is described for in vivo implantation of UCM-MSC spheroids formed on chitosan film. No complication was observed in the study with respect to morbidity, stress rising effects, or tissue infection. The total functional score of the operated rats at 7 days was lower than that of normal rats, but returned to normal within 28 days after surgery. Histological scores of tissue-healing confirmed the presence of a clot in treated defects evaluated at 7 days, absence of foreign body reaction, and progressing healing at 28 days. This bilateral patella tendon defect model controls inter-individual variation via creation of an internal control in each rat, was associated with acceptable morbidity, and allowed detection of differences between untreated tendons and treatments.
Introduction
Tendon injury is one of the most common causes of significant pain and muscle atrophy across species1. In veterinary medicine, tendon and ligament injuries are of special interest in horses, as 82% of all injuries in race horses involve the musculoskeletal system, and 46% of those affect tendons and ligaments2,3. Scar tissue formation affects the biomechanical properties of healed tendons and explains the guarded prognosis for return to athletic use after flexor tendon injuries; re-injury occurs within 2 years in up to 67% of horses treated conservatively4. Regen....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Protocol
All methods described here have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Western University of Health Sciences.
1. Isolation and Expansion of MSCs from Equine Umbilical Cord Matrix
- Obtain the placenta from an adult mare (pregnant) after observed foaling and aseptically isolate the umbilical cord from the placenta. Keep the umbilical cord in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with 1% penicillin-streptomycin (P/S) at 4 °C during transfer until processing.
- Wash the umbilical cord twice with room temperature PBS with 1% P/S in a 50 mL tube. Section the umbilical cord into 2-inch-long fr....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Results
In the current study, results are presented as mean ± SD (standard deviation). Cells were isolated from the umbilical cords of 6 mares, and percentage of isolated cell lines expressing each cell surface marker under standard or chitosan conditioning were compared with a Friedman test, as a non-parametric analysis of variance with repeated measures. For tendon defect model creation, 8 rats were used for 7 days post-surgery assessment and 12 rats were used for 28 days assessment. Results of.......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Discussion
Equine cells were selected for this project because we eventually intend to test candidate approaches in the management of natural tendinopathies in horses. Indeed, tendon injuries in horses are appealing as natural models of tendinopathy in man because of the biological similarity between the equine superficial digital flexor and Achilles tendon in humans41. The cell surface markers CD44, CD90, CD105, CD34, and MHC II were selected for immunophenotyping of cells, in accordance with the criteria r.......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Disclosures
The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Su, PhD, for her statistical analysis of the data. The authors also thank Dr. McClure, DVM, PhD DACLAM, for her advice on the anesthesia and pain management protocols used in the study. This project was supported by grants from Western University of Health Sciences Office of the Vice President for Research (12678v) and USDA Section 1433 funds (2090).
....Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBS 10x | Hyclone | SH30258.01 | Consumable |
| Collagenase type IA | Worthington | LS004197 | Consumable |
| DMEM low glucose | Hyclone | SH30021.FS | Consumable |
| Fetal Bovine Serum | Hyclone | SH30910.03 | Consumable |
| Penicillin/Streptomycin 100x | Hyclone | SV30010 | Consumable |
| Trypsin 0.25% | Hyclone | SH30042.01 | Consumable |
| Accutase | Innovative Cell Technologies | AT104 | Consumable |
| Trypan blue | Hyclone | SV30084.01 | Consumable |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide | Sigma | D2650 | Consumable |
| Chitosan | Sigma | C3646 | Consumable |
| Sodium Hydroxide | Sigma | S8045 | Consumable |
| Bovine Serum Albumin | Hyclone | SH30574.01 | Consumable |
| Round bottom polystyrene tube | Corning | 149591A | Consumable |
| Mouse anti-horse CD44 (FITC) | AbD serotec | MCA1082F | Consumable |
| Mouse anti-rat CD90 (FITC) | AbD serotec | MCA47FT | Consumable |
| Mouse anti-horse MHC-II (FITC) | AbD serotec | MCA1085F | Consumable |
| Mouse IgG1 (FITC) - Isotype Control | AbD serotec | MCA928F | Consumable |
| Mouse monoclonal [SN6] to CD105 (FITC) | abcam | ab11415 | Consumable |
| Mouse IgG1 (FITC) - Isotype Control | abcam | ab91356 | Consumable |
| Mouse anti-human CD34 (FITC) | BD | BDB560942 | Consumable |
| Mouse IdG1 kappa (FITC) | BD | BDB555748 | Consumable |
| 7-AAD | BD | BDB559925 | Consumable |
| BD Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer | BD | Equipment | |
| Vacutainer 5 mL | Med Vet International | RED5.0 | Consumable |
| Acid-citrate-dextrose | Sigma | C3821 | Consumable |
| Calcium Chloride | Sigma | C5670 | Consumable |
| Sevoflurane | JD Medical | 60307-320-25 | Consumable |
| Rats | Charles River | Strain code: 400 | Experimental animal |
| Rat surgical kit | Harvard apparatus | 728942 | Equipment |
| Surgical Blade #15 | MEDLINE | MDS15115 | Consumable |
| Rat MD's Baytril (2 mg/Tablet), Rimadyl (2 mg/Tablet) | Bio Serv | F06801 | Consumable |
| Polyglactin 910, 5-0 | Ethicon | J436G | Consumable |
| Eosin alchol shandon | Thermo scientific | 6766007 | Consumable |
| Harris Hematoxylin | Thermo scientific | 143907 | Consumable |
References
- Rossdale, P. D., Hopes, R., Digby, N. J., offord, K. Epidemiological study of wastage among racehorses 1982 and 1983. Vet Rec. 116 (3), 66-69 (1982).
- Black, D. A., Tucci, M., Puckett, A., Lawyer, T., Benghuzzi, H. Strength of a new method of achilles tendon repair in the rat - ....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Reprints and Permissions
