J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2015 Jun;50(3):241-248. 10.4055/jkoa.2015.50.3.241.

Influence of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 on the Remodeling of Subchondral Bone and Cartilage Healing in the Articular Cartilage Defect of the Rabbit

• Lee SH
• Lee SJ
• Lee JS
• Ahn J

• KMID: 1851958
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2015.50.3.241

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) after microfracture on the remodeling of subchondral bone and cartilage healing in a model of full-thickness articular cartilage injury in a rabbit.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A full thickness articular cartilage defect of 6x3-mm-size was created in the trochlear groove of the right femur in 24 rabbits. The defect was left empty in six rabbits, and microfracture was done in 18 rabbits. After microfracture, no treatment was done in six rabbits, defect was filled with fibrin glue in six rabbits, and with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 in six rabbits. The effect of rhBMP-2 after microfracture was evaluated based on histological analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for analysis of collagen type at 8 weeks after surgery.
RESULTS
The score of histological grade scale of six rabbits in which the defect was filled with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 was better than that of others and real-time PCR also showed a higher amount of collage type 1 and collage type 2 in these six rabbits.
CONCLUSION
We consider that fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 after microfracture may accelerate cartilage healing in an articular cartilage defect and maybe helpful in healing the articular cartilage defect into more closely native hyaline cartilage.

Keyword

articular cartilage defect; microfracture; bone morphogenetic protein-2

MeSH Terms

Cartilage*
Cartilage, Articular*
Collagen
Femur
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive
Humans
Hyaline Cartilage
Rabbits
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Collagen
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Experiment photographs. (A) A 3×6 mm defect is made at the intercondylar notch of rabbit's femur with a 3 mm diameter drill hole (1-2 mm thickness) without subchondral bone damage. (B) Microfracture (arrows) is made with a fine K-wire. (C) The defect (dashed arrow) is filled with fibrin glue and recombinant human morphogenetic protein-2.

• 

  Figure 2 Photographs of H&E stain (×40). (A) Cartilage defect only. (B) Treatment with microfracture. (C) Treatment with microfracture and fibrin glue. (D) Treatment with microfracture, fibrin glue, and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). The defect filled with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 demonstrated more cartilagenous tissue and replacement of subchondral bone. The arrows indicate the boundary between the preexisting articular cartilage and the repair tissues. RC, repair cartilage; NC, normal cartilage.

• 

  Figure 3 Photographs of Alcian blue stain (×40). (A) Cartilage defect only. (B) Treatment with microfracture. (C) Treatment with microfracture and fibrin glue. (D) Treatment with microfracture, fibrin glue, and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). These findings demonstrated the presence of greater amounts of hyaline cartilage in the group treated with microfracture, fibrin glue and rhBMP-2. The arrows indicate the boundary between the preexisting articular cartilage and the repair tissues. RC, repair cartilage; NC, normal cartilage.

• 

  Figure 4 Results of real-time polymerase chain reaction in each group. Group filled with fibrin glue and recombinant human morphogenetic protein-2 after microfracture demonstrated a higher amount of collagen type 1 and collagen type 2.

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