Abstract
Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into several cells that participate in the healing of meniscal wounds. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of injected BMSCs on the healing of meniscal wounds. Autologous BMSCs from eight adult dogs were injected into meniscal wounds (knee joints). After 12 weeks, the healing process was clinically and immunomorphologically evaluated using: (i) histochemical stains (haematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome and periodic acid-Schiff) and (ii) immunoperoxidase staining methods (CD3, CD79a, CD68, CD31 and alpha smooth-muscle actin for T, B lymphocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells and smooth-muscle lineage). Complete (six vs. three), partial (one vs. one) and no healing (one vs. four animals) of the meniscal wounds were observed in the injected and noninjected menisci. As compared with the noninjected menisci, examination of the tissues from the injected ones revealed: (i) marked angiogenesis (microvessel density: 3.22 +/- 0.66 vs. 6.50 +/- 2.10); (ii) chondrogenesis; (iii) prominent immune cell infiltrate (4.07 +/- 0.78 vs. 9.56 +/- 1.69, 8.33 +/- 0.77 vs. 3.67 +/- 1.00 and 4.38 +/- 0.62 vs. 11.1 +/- 1.43 for the total numbers of immune cells, lymphocytes and macrophages, respectively); and (iv) proliferation of the fibroblasts with marked deposition of collagen fibres (2.0 +/- 0.84 vs. 2.66 +/- 0.48). These values were statistically significantly higher for the injected menisci as compared with the noninjected ones (P >/= 0.05). Autologous BMSCs can improve meniscal wound healing. Whether this improvement occurs through BMSC differentiation into cells operational in the repair process, the release of certain mediator or other unknown mechanisms mandates further investigations.