Trochanteric Bursa Is a Source of Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells

To investigate the presence of connective tissue progenitor cells (CTPs) in the trochanteric bursa harvested over the gluteus medius muscle belly and tendon during open hip procedures.

Trochanteric bursa samples from nine patients (63.1 ± 8.6 years) undergoing total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis were obtained from 2 sites: over the gluteus medius tendon at the greater trochanter and over the muscle belly. Bursal tissue was digested with collagenase and grown in culture. The nucleated cell count, cellular concentration, cellular proliferation, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and differentiation using immunostaining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine and quantify the presence of CTPs.

Bursa-derived CTPs were identified in all harvested samples. At t = 0, there was no difference in nucleated cell count over muscle and tendon (1.69 ± 1.26 × 10⁸ and 1.41 ± 1.12 × 10⁸ cells/g, respectively; P = .162). Similarly, the cellular concentration at 3 weeks was not significantly different between bursa harvested over muscle and tendon (6.61 ± 5.14 × 10⁶ and 5.58 ± 4.70 × 10⁶ cells/g, respectively; P = .532). High cellular proliferation was identified for both bursal tissue overlying muscle and tendon (2.28 ± .95 and 1.66 ± 1.05, respectively; P = .194). FACS analysis revealed high positivity rates (>95%) of CTP-specific surface epitopes (CD105, CD90, and CD73) and low positivity rates (<1.3%) of negative markers (CD45, CD31). Osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation potential was demonstrated with immunostaining and quantitative PCR for gene expression.

Connective tissue progenitor cells are found in the trochanteric bursa overlying the muscle and tendon of the hip abductors.

During open hip procedures, the trochanteric bursa is often partially excised to identify muscular boundaries and tissue planes for surgical exposure. The function of the trochanteric bursa remains largely unknown. However, this tissue is a source of connective tissue progenitor cells, which may be important in the healing response of surgically repaired abductor tendons.