Developing Allogeneic Musculoskeletal Therapies

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Cartilage and bone injury and osteoarthritis (OA) continues to take its toll on the quality of life of a large proportion of the world's population. Clinicians and scientists at the Robert Jones \& Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) are part of the Versus Arthritis Tissue Engineering Centre. The investigators have a long history of developing innovative cell-based therapies for the treatment of cartilage and bone defects and osteoarthritis, such as, autologous chondrocyte implantation, which is considered a successful treatment for chondral defects. However, there are potential drawbacks to the use of this procedure to treat larger osteochondral defects that arise in OA. These include the potential shortage of cartilage tissue available in OA patients and the fact that those cells obtained may have phenotypes preventing the reproduction of good quality cartilage. It is therefore favourable to seek a source of cells optimal for osteochondrogenesis for every patient. To further our studies the investigators wish to collect amputated digits that are removed in the routine treatment of polydactyly. The investigators also intend to study cells isolated from the iliac apophysis, these tissues will be removed during surgeries in the treatment of dislocated hips. In addition, the investigators intend to receive joint tissues from collaborative orthopaedic hospital tissue biobanks and National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHS-BT). Our intention is to study the potential of cells derived from these tissues in the treatment of other patients with cartilage or bone injuries or osteoarthritis. In the first instance, the investigators propose to evaluate the use of various sources of cells for musculoskeletal therapies including bone, bone marrow and cartilage, although skin, fat and other tissues might also be attractive sources. Stem cells derived from these tissues are known to be capable of differentiating into cells which might be suitable for musculoskeletal repair strategies, i.e. osteoblasts and chondrocytes, to form bone and cartilaginous tissues. Thus these cells are attractive candidates for allogenic cell therapies for treatment of OA tissue damage. Furthermore the expected high vitality of the juvenile cells may allow for several patients to be treated by one characterised source. This will help to lower the cost of providing a cell therapy.