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Labeling and tracing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for tendon-to-bone tunnel healing

  • Experimental Study
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on tendon-to-bone tunnel healing and provide experimental evidence for labeling and tracing of stem cells.

Methods

Rat BMSCs were harvested using the adherence separation technique and labeled by super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and 1,1-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Dil) particles. Thirty-nine male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 18). Rats from the experimental group were injected with SPIO- and Dil-labeled BMSCs and Pluronic F-127, and rats from the control group were only injected with Pluronic F-127. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery, biomechanical analysis was performed to evaluate tendon-to-bone tunnel healing. The transplanted BMSCs were observed by fluorescence microscope at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery and traced by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 0, 3, and 7 days after surgery.

Results

BMSCs were labeled effectively by SPIO and Dil particles. At 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery, Dil-labeled cells were observed at tendon-bone interface by fluorescence microscope. In the experimental group, no obvious signal changes of tendon-bone interface were observed by MR imaging. The maximum biomechanical pull-out strength was not statistically different between experimental and control groups at 2 weeks, but significantly higher in the experimental group at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The present study indicated that the transplanted BMSCs could promote tendon-to-bone tunnel healing at 4–8 weeks postoperatively. Dil- and SPIO-labeled transplanted BMSCs distributed at the tendon-bone interface and might play a role in promoting tendon-to-bone tunnel healing, which may be translated into practical cytotherapy for patients those who need earlier rehabilitation for ligament reconstruction surgery in clinic.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC #90606007) and Major International Joint Research Project of NSFC (NSFC#309101039).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    Yong-Gang Li, Ji-Nan Wei, Jun Lu & Xiao-Tao Wu

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, 87 Ding Jia Qiao Road, 210009, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    Gao-Jun Teng

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  1. Yong-Gang Li
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  2. Ji-Nan Wei
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  3. Jun Lu
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  4. Xiao-Tao Wu
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Correspondence to Gao-Jun Teng.

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Li, YG., Wei, JN., Lu, J. et al. Labeling and tracing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for tendon-to-bone tunnel healing. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 2153–2158 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1506-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1506-0

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