Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
Fabrication of Decellularized Cartilage-derived Matrix Scaffolds
Published on: January 7, 2019
Potential of exogenous cartilage proteoglycan as a new material for cartilage regeneration
Shusa Ohshika1, Yasuyuki Ishibashi, Atsushi Kon
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan. ortho_ohshika@yahoo.co.jp
Background:
Although proteoglycan (PG) is one of the major components of cartilage matrices, its biological function is not fully elucidated.
Methods:
The objectives of this study were to investigate the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes embedded in atelocollagen gel with exogenous cartilage PG (PG-atelocollagen gel) in vitro, and also to evaluate the repair of cartilage defects by PG-atelocollagen gel in vivo. In the in vitro study, rabbit chondrocytes were cultured in the PG-atelocollagen gel. Cell proliferation and mRNA expression levels were measured, and gels were histologically evaluated. In the in vivo study, cultured PG-atelocollagen gel containing chondrocytes were transplanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbit knees, and evaluated macroscopically and histologically.
Results:
For the in vitro study, chondrocyte proliferation in 5.0 mg/ml PG-atelocollagen gel was enhanced, and the gene expression of Col2a1 and Aggrecan were decreased. In contrast, chondrocyte proliferation in 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml PG-atelocollagen gel was not enhanced. The gene expression of Aggrecan in 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml PG-atelocollagen gel was increased. For the in vivo study, the histological average total score of the 0.1 mg/ml PG-atelocollagen gel was significantly better than that of the group without PG.
Conclusions:
Although the appropriate concentration of PG has not been defined, this study suggests the efficacy of PG for cartilage repair.
