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Biology

Implantation of Ferumoxides Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cartilage Defects

Published: April 5, 2010 doi: 10.3791/1793

Summary

Goal of the presentation is to demonstrate a highly reproducible method to generate matrix associated stem cell implants in cartilage defects, which can be visualized with MR imaging. Stem cells are labeled with FDA-approved Ferumoxides, mixed with agarose, implanted into cartilage defects and imaged with a 7T MR scanner.

Abstract

The field of tissue engineering integrates the principles of engineering, cell biology and medicine towards the regeneration of specific cells and functional tissue. Matrix associated stem cell implants (MASI) aim to regenerate cartilage defects due to arthritic or traumatic joint injuries. Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into cells of the chondrogenic lineage and have shown promising results for cell-based articular cartilage repair technologies. Autologous MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, can be expanded in cell cultures without losing their differentiation potential, and have demonstrated chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo1, 2.

In order to provide local retention and viability of transplanted MSCs in cartilage defects, a scaffold is needed, which also supports subsequent differentiation and proliferation. The architecture of the scaffold guides tissue formation and permits the extracellular matrix, produced by the stem cells, to expand. Previous investigations have shown that a 2% agarose scaffold may support the development of stable hyaline cartilage and does not induce immune responses3.

Long term retention of transplanted stem cells in MASI is critical for cartilage regeneration. Labeling of MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles allows for long-term in vivo tracking with non-invasive MR imaging techniques4.

This presentation will demonstrate techniques for labeling MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles, the generation of cell-agarose constructs and implantation of these constructs into cartilage defects. The labeled constructs can be tracked non-invasively with MR-Imaging.

Protocol

1. Labeling of hMSCs with Endorem

  1. Cells are grown to 80% confluence at least 18 hours before labeling.
  2. During this time, labeling media is prepared by adding Endorem to the sample at a dose of 100 ug Fe/ml serum-free media.
  3. After cells are grown to confluence, culture media is aspirated and cells are washed 1x with PBS or serum-free media.
  4. Next, the rinse solution is aspirated and the previously prepared labeling media is added. The cells are then incubated at 37°C, 5% CO2 for 4 hours.
  5. After 4 hours incubation, labeling media is aspirated and cells are rinsed with PBS and trypsinized as usual.
  6. Once trypsinized, cells are washed 3x with PBS and centrifuged at 400rcf for 5 minutes.
  7. After this washing step, cells are resuspended, counted, assessed for viability, and used as needed for experimentation.

2. Preparing Agarose

  1. After the cells have been labeled it is time to prepare the agarose solution.
  2. On a fine scale, 80mg of agarose powder are weighed and added to 2ml of PBS.
  3. This solution is then gently shaken and autoclaved.
  4. After approximately 40 min, the fluid agarose solution can be taken out of the autoclave. The volume should be measured and adjusted accordingly with preheated PBS.
  5. Then the solution is cooled down to 42°C

3. Creating MASI

  1. When the agarose solution has reached the desired temperature, the cells are counted and centrifuged for the last time in a 1.5ml Eppendorf tube.
  2. After centrifugation, the supernatant is discarded and the cells are mixed with the DMEM to reach a concentration of 30 x 106 cells/ml.
  3. Now the cells are mixed with the 42°C warm agarose.
  4. A cold pipette tip may cause agarose to solidify inside the tip, therefore it is advised to preheat the tip by pipetting hot sterile PBS up and down
  5. Now, the same volume of agarose as media is taken up and mixed thoroughly with the cell-media-suspension so that a homogenous suspension is created.
  6. Keep the Eppendorf tube inside a preheated water bath while mixing so that the agarose does not cool down enough to solidify.
  7. When the suspension is homogenous, the cells are implanted in the defect.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Coronal T2 weighted SE images (TR 4000 ms/ TE 18.27 ms) of a patella specimen with implanted hMSCs in cartilage defects.

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Discussion

The described protocol provides a reproducible way to label MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles and implant these labeled MSCs into cartilage defects. This technique permits non-invasive depiction of stem cell transplants in cartilage defects with MR imaging, which allows an early detection of MASI failure. A dislocation or efflux of the labeled cells can be diagnosed based on a disappearance of the label from the transplantation site on MR images. An early diagnosis of these events is desirable and would prevent the patient from unnecessary alternative invasive diagnostic procedures. The described non-invasive method for diagnosing MASI outcomes could aid in the successful development of cell based therapies for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis. Our protocol is currently applied in preclinical in-vivo studies, would be in principle clinically applicable and could serve as non-invasive outcome measure for the assessment of MASI therapies in clinical practice.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases, NIH RO1AR054458.

Materials

Name Type Company Catalog Number Comments
D-MEM High Glucose Reagent Sigma-Aldrich D5648
PBS (Ca++, Mg++ free) GIBCO, by Life Technologies 14190-144
Trypsin-EDTA 0.05% Invitrogen 25399-120
FBS Hyclone SH30071.03
Penicillin/Streptomycin GIBCO, by Life Technologies 15140-122
Ferumoxides (Endorem) Guerbet
Agarose Typ VII Sigma-Aldrich A9045 Dilute Agarose in PBS to final concentration of 4%

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References

  1. Mauck, R. L., Yuan, X., Tuan, R. S. Chondrogenic differentiation and functional maturation of bovine mesenchymal stem cells in long-term agarose culture. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 14, 179-189 (2006).
  2. Pittenger, M. F. Multilineage potential of adult human mesenchymal stem cells. Science. 284, 143-147 (1999).
  3. Rahfoth, B. Transplantation of allograft chondrocytes embedded in agarose gel into cartilage defects of rabbits. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 6, 50-65 (1998).
  4. Henning, T. D., Boddington, S., Daldrup-Link, H. E. Labeling hESCs and hMSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles for non-invasive in vivo tracking with MR imaging. J Vis Exp. , (2008).

Tags

Implantation Ferumoxides Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cartilage Defects Tissue Engineering Matrix Associated Stem Cell Implants Cartilage Regeneration Arthritic Joint Injuries Traumatic Joint Injuries Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells Chondrogenic Lineage Cell-based Articular Cartilage Repair Technologies Autologous MSCs Cell Cultures Differentiation Potential Chondrogenic Differentiation Scaffold Tissue Formation Extracellular Matrix Expansion Agarose Scaffold Hyaline Cartilage Immune Responses Long-term Retention Iron Oxide Nanoparticles MR Imaging Techniques
Implantation of Ferumoxides Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cartilage Defects
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Cite this Article

Nedopil, A. J., Mandrussow, L. G.,More

Nedopil, A. J., Mandrussow, L. G., Daldrup-Link, H. E. Implantation of Ferumoxides Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cartilage Defects. J. Vis. Exp. (38), e1793, doi:10.3791/1793 (2010).

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