March 2014-AAOS New Orleans-Biologics Meeting Report

The initial and early review of the poster session at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2014, revealed a paucity of biologic/regeneration posters, however, I was however a bit early.  Most posters were in animal models, unfortunately no translational clinical papers in humans, and only a few papers looking at human ex vivo and in vitro work. 

The best poster that I saw related to biologics that I saw this morning, was from The Center for Stem Cell and Arthritis Research-Korea.  Lead author is Yun-Jin Choi, M.D., however I believe that this work is from the lab Yong-Gon Koh.  I first met Professor Koh at the ICRS Focus Meeting in Bologna, where his lab was presenting work on Allogenic MSCs used for knee articular cartilage regeneration/restoration.

This paper outlined the Age and Cartilage related differences of synovium tissue derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs).

Methods:   3 groups

Group A:  young patients < 30 years old underwent partial menisectomy, normal cartilage

Group B:  patients who were middle aged (50-60) underwent partial menisectomy, nearly normal cartilage.

Group C:  patients who underwent TKA (total knee arthroplasty) end stage cartilage disease.

Tissue was obtained from the supra patellar fat pad

Investigated was:  colony forming efficiency; in vitro expandability;  cell proliferation rates; flow cytometry; in vitro chondrogenic differentiation;  immunohistochemistry; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Results:  Nucleated cell numbers were greatest in the young group–although the significance was not listed. 

No difference between the older groups.  No difference between all groups as far as cell surface protein expression. Expansion-ability to expand was retained only in young group-there were significant differences between all groups stated, however this was not clear from the graphic.

Proliferation group A was the highest, but do not know if this was significant.  Chondrogenic differentiation, immunohistochemistry, and PCR was not different among the groups.

Conclusion–age differs significantly with the respect to expandability and proliferation of SDSCs.

Commentary:    This study confirms work previously published in osteogenic potential D’Ipollito-1999.  Taken the knowledge a step further from the work of Im, et. al, Chondrogenic potential in older individuals-2006.  This study outlines what all practitioners of biological treatments should aspire.

1)  Excellent characterization and recording of tissue/cells

2)  Determination and recording numbers of cells being delivered-flow cytometry

3)  Capabilities of cells

By no means has this single poster summarized all the key requirements for these types of treatments, but not a bad job in a 6’x4′ space.