Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Feb 26, 2024; 16(2): 176-190
Published online Feb 26, 2024. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v16.i2.176
High quality repair of osteochondral defects in rats using the extracellular matrix of antler stem cells
Yu-Su Wang, Wen-Hui Chu, Jing-Jie Zhai, Wen-Ying Wang, Zhong-Mei He, Quan-Min Zhao, Chun-Yi Li
Yu-Su Wang, Wen-Ying Wang, Chun-Yi Li, Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
Yu-Su Wang, Zhong-Mei He, Quan-Min Zhao, College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin Province, China
Wen-Hui Chu, School of Life Science, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang Province, China
Jing-Jie Zhai, Department of Oral Implantology, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
Co-first authors: Yu-Su Wang and Wen-Hui Chu.
Author contributions: Wang YS, Zhao QM, and Li CY contributed to the conceptualization; Wang YS, Zhai JJ, Wang WY, and He ZM participated in the in vitro methodology; Wang YS, Chu WH, Wang WY, and Zhao QM were involved in the in vivo methodology; Wang YS, Zhai JJ, and He ZM took part in data analysis; Wang YS and Chu WH wrote the manuscript; Chu WH, He ZM, and Zhao QM contributed to the review and editing of this article; and all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. U20A20403.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: This study was conducted in accordance with the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University (AEC No: CKARI202309).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Chun-Yi Li, PhD, Professor, Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, No. 1345 Pudong Road, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China. lichunyi1959@163.com
Received: October 20, 2023
Peer-review started: October 20, 2023
First decision: December 5, 2023
Revised: December 15, 2023
Accepted: January 19, 2024
Article in press: January 19, 2024
Published online: February 26, 2024
Processing time: 128 Days and 14.7 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

To properly repair articular cartilage defects is still a big challenge in the clinical field. Notably, cell-free xenogeneic extracellular matrix (ECM) of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been found to be effective on the restoration of articular defects. Identification of more potent xenogeneic ECM for cartilage defect repair has been being conducted. Deer antlers are the only mammalian organ that once lost can fully regenerate. During the rapid growing period, antlers can elongate at unprecedented rate (2 cm/d). Research finds that the ability of this full regeneration and extremely rapid growth of antlers is underpinned by its ECM and soluble factors, besides the presence of antler stem cells. Consequently, we decided to apply ECM from the antler mesenchymal cells located at its growth centre [antler reserve mesenchymal cells (RMCs)] to the rat articular cartilage defects to evaluate the effects of RMC-ECM.

Research motivation

After 4 decades of research on deer antler biology in our research group, we found that deer antlers, fastest growing bony organ (2 cm/d), would be superior for the reparation of bone defects if being applied to the clinical situation.

Research objectives

To identify potent cell-free xenogeneic ECM for high quality repair of articular cartilage defects.

Research methods

RMCs were isolated from a 60-d-growth (most rapid growth period) antler, and RMCs were stimulated to produce ECM (RMC-ECM) using ascorbic acid. Holes (1.5 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm in depth) were drilled on the rat articular cartilage and filled with RMC-ECM sheet before closure. The repaired tissue was collected at three different times: 4, 8 and 12 wk after surgery and treatment for histological and immunohistochemistry analyses.

Research results

In vitro trials demonstrated that RMC-ECM was superior for attracting mesenchymal cells to attach and proliferate. In vivo, RMC-ECM was used to fill the drilled holes on the rat articular cartilage surface and successfully repaired these defects. The repaired quality (hyaline cartilage-like) of RMC-ECM was superior to the controls of both adipocyte-derived MSCs-CM and antlerogenic periosteal cell-ECM.

Research conclusions

Decellularized RMC-ECM, a novel type of xenogeneic ECM that derived from the active type of antler stem cell, achieved high quality repair/reconstruction of rat articular osteochondral defects.

Research perspectives

Eventual solve the problem of articular cartilage defects, thus arthritis, would be cell-free allogenic/xenogeneic ECM. Based on its attributes, RMC-ECM is considered as one of the most potent natural ECM for the repair of cartilage defects.