| 1. |
- Kaarniranta, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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A mouse model for Stickler's syndrome; ocular phenotype of mice carrying a targeted heterozygous inactivation of type II (pro)collagen gene (Col2a1).
- 2006
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Ingår i: Experimental Eye Research. - : Elsevier. - 0014-4835 .- 1096-0007. ; 83:2, s. 297-303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influences of targeted heterozygous inactivation of type II (pro)collagen gene (Col2a1) on eye structures in the 15-month-old C57BL/6JOlaHsd mouse was studied. The eyes were collected from C57BL mice heterozygous for a targeted inactivation of one allele of the Col2a1 gene (Col2a1(+/-) mice). The eyes of C57BL mice with normal gene alleles were used as controls (Col2a1(+/+) mice). Ocular histology was analyzed from tissue sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue and alcian blue. Type II collagen was localized by immunohistochemistry. Hyaluronan (HA) was stained utilizing the biotinylated complex of the hyaluronan-binding region of aggrecan and link protein (bHABC). The anterior segment of the eye was well-formed in both genotypes, but typical folding of ciliary processes was decreased, while increased stromal extracellular matrix vacuolization was seen in the Col2a1(+/-) mice. In the lens of these mice, subcapsular extracellular matrix changes were observed. Differences in retinal structures or the number of the eyes with retinal detachment were not detected between the genotypes. In Col2a1(+/-) mice, staining for type II collagen was weaker in cornea, ciliary body, iris, lens, vitreous, retina, choroid and sclera than in the control mice. HA staining was detected in the extraocular tissues, ciliary body, iris and the choroid of both genotypes. HA staining was observed only in the vitreous body of the control animals. Heterozygous inactivation of Col2a1 gene causes structural defects in the murine eye. The observed structural changes in the ciliary body, lens and vitreous of the Col2a1(+/-) mice may represent ocular features found in the human Stickler syndrome, where the abnormalities result from COL2A1 gene mutations which lead to functional haploinsufficiency.
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| 2. |
- Pulkkinen, Hertta, et al.
(författare)
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Cellulose sponge as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Bio-medical materials and engineering. - : IOS Press. - 0959-2989 .- 1878-3619. ; 16:4 Suppl, s. S29-S35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- One goal of functional tissue engineering is to manufacture scaffolds infiltrated with chondrocytes which are suitable for transplantation into the lesion areas of articular cartilage. Various research strategies are used to fabricate cartilage transplants which would have the correct phenotype, contain enough extracellular matrix components, and have structural and biomechanical properties equivalent to normal articular cartilage. We have investigated the suitability of viscose cellulose sponges as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. The sponges were tested alone, or with recombinant human type II collagen cross-linked inside the material. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were used to study the structure of the scaffold during four weeks of cultivation. Cellulose and cellulose/recombinant type II collagen sponges were biocompatible for at least four weeks in cultivation, and gradual filling of the scaffold was observed. However, the constructs remained soft during the observation period, and were devoid of extracellular matrix composition typical for normal articular cartilage.
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| 3. |
- Pulkkinen, Hertta, et al.
(författare)
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Engineering of cartilage in recombinant human type II collagen gel in nude mouse model in vivo.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. - : Elsevier BV. - 1063-4584 .- 1522-9653. ; 18:8, s. 1077-1087
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to test the recombinant human type II collagen (rhCII) material as a gel-like scaffold for chondrocytes in a nude mouse model in vivo.DESIGN: Isolated bovine chondrocytes (6x10(6)) were seeded into rhCII gels (rhCII-cell) and injected subcutaneously into the backs of nude mice. For comparison, chondrocytes (6x10(6)) in culture medium (Med-cell) and cell-free rhCII gels (rhCII-gel) were similarly injected (n=24 animals, total of three injections/animal). After 6 weeks, the tissue constructs were harvested and analyzed.RESULTS: Chondrocytes with or without rhCII-gel produced white resilient tissue, which in histological sections had chondrocytes in lacunae-like structures. Extracellular matrix stained heavily with toluidine blue stain and had strongly positive collagen type II immunostaining. The tissue did not show any evidence of vascular invasion or mineralization. The cell-free rhCII-gel constructs showed no signs of cartilage tissue formation. Cartilage tissue produced by Med-cell was thin and macroscopically uneven, while the rhCII-cell construct was smooth and rounded piece of neotissue. RhCII-cell constructs were statistically thicker than Med-cell ones. However, no statistical differences were found between the groups in terms of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content or biomechanical properties.CONCLUSIONS: These results show that rhCII-gel provides good expansion and mechanical support for the formation of cartilage neotissue. RhCII material may allow favorable conditions in the repair of chondral lesions.
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| 4. |
- Pulkkinen, Hertta, et al.
(författare)
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Recombinant human type II collagen as a material for cartilage tissue engineering.
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Artificial Organs. - : Wichtig Editore Srl. - 0391-3988 .- 1724-6040. ; 31:11, s. 960-969
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Collagen type II is the major component of cartilage and would be an optimal scaffold material for reconstruction of injured cartilage tissue. In this study, the feasibility of recombinant human type II collagen gel as a 3-dimensional culture system for bovine chondrocytes was evaluated in vitro.METHODS: Bovine chondrocytes (4x106 cells) were seeded within collagen gels and cultivated for up to 4 weeks. The gels were investigated with confocal microscopy, histology, and biochemical assays.RESULTS: Confocal microscopy revealed that the cells maintained their viability during the entire cultivation period. The chondrocytes were evenly distributed inside the gels, and the number of cells and the amount of the extracellular matrix increased during cultivation. The chondrocytes maintained their round phenotype during the 4-week cultivation period. The glycosaminoglycan levels of the tissue increased during the experiment. The relative levels of aggrecan and type II collagen mRNA measured with realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed an increase at 1 week.CONCLUSION: Our results imply that recombinant human type II collagen is a promising biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering, allowing homogeneous distribution in the gel and biosynthesis of extracellular matrix components.
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| 5. |
- Pulkkinen, Hertta, et al.
(författare)
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Repair of osteochondral defects with recombinant human type II collagen gel and autologous chondrocytes in rabbit
- 2013
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Ingår i: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. - : Elsevier. - 1063-4584 .- 1522-9653. ; 21:3, s. 481-490
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- SummaryObjectiveRecombinant human type II collagen (rhCII) gels combined with autologous chondrocytes were tested as a scaffold for cartilage repair in rabbits in vivo.MethodAutologous chondrocytes were harvested, expanded and combined with rhCII-gel and further pre-cultivated for 2 weeks prior to transplantation into a 4 mm diameter lesion created into the rabbit's femoral trochlea (n = 8). Rabbits with similar untreated lesions (n = 7) served as a control group.ResultsSix months after the transplantation the repair tissue in both groups filled the lesion site, but in the rhCII-repair the filling was more complete. Both repair groups also had high proteoglycan and type II collagen contents, except in the fibrous superficial layer. However, the integration to the adjacent cartilage was incomplete. The O'Driscoll grading showed no significant differences between the rhCII-repair and spontaneous repair, both representing lower quality than intact cartilage. In the repair tissues the collagen fibers were abnormally organized and oriented. No dramatic changes were detected in the subchondral bone structure. The repair cartilage was mechanically softer than the intact tissue. Spontaneously repaired tissue showed lower values of equilibrium and dynamic modulus than the rhCII-repair. However, the differences in the mechanical properties between all three groups were insignificant.ConclusionWhen rhCII was used to repair cartilage defects, the repair quality was histologically incomplete, but still the rhCII-repairs showed moderate mechanical characteristics and a slight improvement over those in spontaneous repair. Therefore, further studies using rhCII for cartilage repair with emphasis on improving integration and surface protection are required.
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| 6. |
- Tiitu, Virpi, et al.
(författare)
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Bioreactor improves the growth and viability of chondrocytes in the knitted poly-L,D-lactide scaffold.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biorheology. - : IOS Press. - 0006-355X .- 1878-5034. ; 45:3-4, s. 539-546
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the present study bovine chondrocytes were cultured in two different environments (static flasks and bioreactor) in knitted poly-L,D-lactide (PLDLA) scaffolds up to 4 weeks. Chondrocyte viability was assessed by employing cell viability fluorescence markers. The cells were visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties and uronic acid contents of the scaffolds were tested. Our results showed that cultivation in a bioreactor improved the growth and viability of the chondrocytes in the PLDLA scaffolds. Cells were observed both on and in between the fibrils of scaffold. Furthermore, chondrocytes cultured in the bioreactor, regained their original round phenotypes, whereas those in the static flask culture were flattened in shape. Confocal microscopy revealed that chondrocytes from the bioreactor were attached on both sides of the scaffold and sustained viability better during the culture period. Uronic acid contents of the scaffolds, cultured in bioreactor, were significantly higher than in those cultured in static flasks for 4 weeks. In summary, our data suggests that the bioreactor is superior over the static flask culture when culturing chondrocytes in knitted PLDLA scaffold.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Virén, Tuomas, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of ultrasound and optical coherence tomography techniques for evaluation of integrity of spontaneously repaired horse cartilage.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0309-1902 .- 1464-522X. ; 36:3, s. 185-192
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity of ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) techniques for the evaluation of the integrity of spontaneously repaired horse cartilage. Articular surfaces of horse intercarpal joints, featuring both intact tissue and spontaneously healed chondral or osteochondral defects, were imaged ex vivo with arthroscopic ultrasound and laboratory OCT devices. Quantitative ultrasound (integrated reflection coefficient (IRC), apparent integrated backscattering coefficient (AIB) and ultrasound roughness index (URI)) and optical parameters (optical reflection coefficient (ORC), optical roughness index (ORI) and optical backscattering (OBS)) were determined and compared with histological integrity and mechanical properties of the tissue. Spontaneously healed tissue could be quantitatively discerned from the intact tissue with ultrasound and OCT techniques. Furthermore, several significant correlations (p < 0.05) were detected between ultrasound and OCT parameters. Superior resolution of OCT provided a more accurate measurement of cartilage surface roughness, while the ultrasound backscattering from the inner structures of the cartilage matched better with the histological findings. Since the techniques were found to be complementary to each other, dual modality imaging techniques could provide a useful tool for the arthroscopic evaluation of the integrity of articular cartilage.
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| 9. |
- Virén, Tuomas, et al.
(författare)
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Quantitative evaluation of spontaneously and surgically repaired rabbit articular cartilage using intra-articular ultrasound method in situ.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. - : Elsevier. - 1879-291X .- 0301-5629. ; 36:5, s. 833-839
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the last decade, a major effort has been devoted to developing surgical methods for repairing localized articular cartilage lesions. Despite some promising results no ultimate breakthrough in surgical cartilage repair has been achieved. Improvements in repair techniques would benefit from more sensitive and quantitative methods for long-term follow-up of cartilage healing. In this study, the potential of a new ultrasound technique for detecting the compositional and structural changes in articular cartilage after surgery, using recombinant human type II collagen gel and spontaneous repair was, investigated. Rabbit knee joints containing intact (n = 13) and surgically (n = 8) or spontaneously (n = 5) repaired tissue were imaged in situ at 6 months after the operation using a clinical intravascular high-frequency (40 MHz) ultrasound device. Based on the ultrasound raw data, ultrasound reflection coefficient (R), integrated ultrasound reflection coefficient (IRC), apparent integrated backscattering coefficient (AIB) and ultrasound roughness index (URI) were determined for each sample. URI was significantly higher in both repair groups than in intact cartilage (p < 0.05). The reflection parameters (R and IRC) were significantly lower in surgically repaired cartilage (p < 0.05) than in intact cartilage. Furthermore, AIB was significantly higher in surgically repaired cartilage than in intact tissue (p < 0.05). To conclude, the integrity of the rabbit articular cartilage repair could be quantitatively evaluated with the nondestructive ultrasound approach. In addition, clinically valuable qualitative information on the changes in cartilage integration, structure and composition could be extracted from the ultrasound images. In the present study, the structure and properties of repaired tissue were inferior to native tissue at 6 months after the operation. The applied ultrasound device and probes are FDA approved and, thus, applicable for the quantitative in vivo evaluation of human articular cartilage.
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