应用自体脂肪干细胞修复猪关节软骨缺损的初步实验研究

目的 探索自体脂肪干细胞修复猪关节软骨缺损的可行性.方法 从猪背部脂肪组织中获取脂肪干细胞,经过体外培养扩增,以50×106/ml的浓度将脂肪干细胞接种于PLGA(polylacticacid/polyglycolicacid,PLA/PGA,PLGA)中,细胞材料复合物在体外成软骨诱导2周.于猪膝关节软骨非负重区形成2个直径8mm的环形、全层软骨缺损,实验组回植经诱导后的细胞材料复合物,对照组放置单纯支架材料.术后12周取材,缺损修复区行大体观察、组织学HE及藏红花染色、免疫组化检测.结果 术后12周实验组缺损区大部分被修复,缺损被软骨组织填充,修复区表面光滑.组织学染色显示有典型的透明软骨样结构.藏红花染色发现修复组织表达丰富的聚合蛋白多糖.对照组则未能修复关节软骨缺损,缺损区面积增大,表面覆盖薄层纤维组织.结论 猪自体脂肪干细胞可以作为组织工程种子细胞,修复猪关节软骨缺损.     

骨形态形成蛋白修复大面积关节软骨缺损的实验研究

将骨形态形成蛋白(BMP)用于大面积关节软骨缺损的修复,探讨应用方法,观察修复效果。在51只成年兔股骨的髌髁关节面上制造5mm×10mm的骨软骨缺损,深3～5mm。缺损内分别填充骨形态形成蛋白和纤维蛋白粘合剂复合物(BMP/FS)、BMP、FS,植入物均用自体游离骨膜覆盖,并设单纯骨膜覆盖缺损组和空白对照组。术后2、4、8、12周对缺损修复情况行大体和组织学观察。结果显示:BMP/FS组,8周时软骨下骨再生已完成,12周表层新生软骨组织结构接近正常,修复效果明显优于其它组。     

骨髓间充质干细胞复合纤维蛋白凝胶修复兔关节软骨缺损

目的观察骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)复合纤维蛋白凝胶(FG)对兔关节软骨缺损的修复效果。方法12只兔24个膝关节按左右分为实验组与对照组,抽取兔骨髓,密度梯度离心法分离间充质干细胞并行体外培养扩增,实验组以MSCs与FG及转化生长因子β1(TGFβ1)复合后填充到兔膝关节全厚软骨缺损模型中,而对照组以FG/TGFβ1填充,于术后12周取材,观察检测软骨缺损的修复情况。结果术后12周,实验组缺损由类透明软骨或透明软骨修复,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性,甲苯胺蓝异染性明显,修复面较平整光滑;而对照组则以纤维软骨及纤维组织修复,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阴性。结论MSCs复合FG及TGFβ1能够修复兔关节软骨缺损。     

兔自体松质骨颗粒修复关节软骨损伤

目的研究兔自体松质骨颗粒在膝关节软骨损伤处移植后能够诱导软骨组织生成、促进关节软骨损伤修复的现象。方法 12只新西兰大白兔麻醉后在兔的右侧膝关节股骨远端内、外侧髁负重区用电钻分别造成直径、深度均为3 mm的骨软骨缺损创面,取同侧髂骨松质骨,制成直径约为1 mm松质骨颗粒植入股骨内侧髁软骨缺损处,作为实验组,外侧髁软骨缺损不做处理作为对照组。术后12周进行膝关节大体观察、病理切片染色,评估关节软骨损伤的修复情况。结果兔膝关节实验组软骨缺损处被新生软骨填充,软骨面光滑,组织切片染色显示有关节软骨形成。对照组缺损创面仍然凹陷,仅在缺损边缘有少量软骨生长。结论兔自体松质骨颗粒在膝关节软骨损伤处能够诱导软骨生成,促进关节软骨的修复,是一种良好的关节软骨损伤修复方法。     

骨髓间质干细胞复合生物陶瓷构建组织工程化人工软骨

目的 探索以多孔β-磷酸三钙(β-TCP)生物陶瓷材料为支架，经体外诱导的骨髓间质干细胞(MSCs)为种子细胞，构建组织工程化软骨修复羊关节软骨缺损的可行性。方法将28只中国美利奴绵羊分为三组。实验组(n＝12)：分离培养羊自体第7代MSCs，经转化生长因子-β诱导后接种到顶制的β-TCP多孔生物陶瓷材料上，细胞—材料复合体经体外孵育后，无菌条件下植入预制的羊单例肋骨近端关节面缺损处；单纯材料组(n＝12)：采用单纯β-TCP材料修复羊关节软骨缺损；空白对照组(n＝4)：制备的羊关节软骨缺损区未做任何修复。术后12周和24周分别取材，进行组织学、组织化学和免疫组织化学分折。结果 实验组术后12周羊关节软骨缺损处肉眼可见透明软骨祥组织形成，组织学检查发现，材料降解明显，未降解吸收的材料孔洞内广泛分布着新生软骨组织，软骨细胞外基质丰富，Ⅱ型胶原染色阳性；术后24周，支架材料几乎完全降解，缺损区被新生软骨组织所取代。单纯材料组术后12周，缺损区边缘有新生软骨组织向支架材料内长入，支架材料吸收明显；术后24周，见从缺损区边缘长入到支架材料内的新生软骨组织逐渐增多，但材料的中心部位未发现新生软骨形成。空白对照组至术后24周，仅见少量软骨组织从缺损区边缘向缺损区内长入，缺损中央大部分区域仍未得到修复。结论 以β-TCP多孔生物陶瓷作为支架材料，以自体MSCs作为种子细胞构建组织工程化软骨修复关节软骨缺损是可行的。     

组织工程技术修复同种异体兔关节软骨缺损实验研究

目的：探讨关节软骨缺损治疗的新途径。方法：把几丁糖作为软骨细胞培养的支架。将几丁糖与软骨细胞一起体外培养,然后移植修复同种异体兔的膝关节软骨缺损,并对关节软骨的修复过程进行术后16周大体、组织学、电镜观察及修复组织厚度测定。结果：几丁糖无纺网在术后2周开始降解吸收,术后10-12周完全吸收;术后第16周在实验侧关节软骨缺损处可见成熟的透明软骨,软骨缺损得到完全修复。结论：几丁糖泊生物学特性符合组织工程中对细胞培养支架的要求;几个糖负载软骨细胞移植修复同种异体兔膝关节软骨缺损,兔膝关节全层软骨缺损得到成功修复。为临床上关节软骨缺损的治疗提供了可能的途径。     

不同应力环境对兔骨髓间充质干细胞修复关节软骨缺损的影响

目的探讨不同应力环境对骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)修复关节软骨缺损的影响. 方法将日本大耳白兔15只制成髌骨外侧脱位动物模型,平均分成3组,每组5只:即单纯载体脱位组(对照组)、移植物正常应力组及移植物脱位组.对兔MSCs进行分离、培养,以兔MSCs为种子细胞构建自体组织工程移植物修复关节软骨缺损.6周后处死动物,观察修复组织的成分和结构. 结果术后6周,移植物正常应力组修复组织浅层为软骨组织,甲苯胺蓝染色接近正常关节软骨;深层为软骨下骨,与正常关节软骨结构相似.移植物脱位组为骨组织所修复,缺损周围的正常关节软骨变薄,软骨下血管侵入正常关节软骨内,遗留在股骨髁滑车槽内的移植物在滑车槽正常关节软骨表面形成新生类透明软骨组织.单纯载体脱位组为纤维组织修复. 结论 MSCs修复关节软骨缺损,只有在正常应力状态下修复效果最佳;提示维持负重关节正常的应力刺激,对组织工程软骨修复组织的形成和维持必不可少.     

骨髓基质细胞体外增殖后移植修复关节软骨缺损的实验研究

目的 :用组织工程的方法将骨髓基质细胞体外培养增殖后植入软骨缺损 ,观察关节软骨缺损的修复效果。方法 :抽取兔骨髓基质细胞体外培养增殖后 ,将其与Ⅱ型胶原凝胶相结合 ,植入到兔膝关节实验性关节软骨缺损中 ,对照组的缺损分别置入与髓腔血混合的Ⅱ型胶原凝胶、单纯Ⅱ型胶原凝胶或不作任何处理 ,术后 4、8、12周取材观察及组织学检查。结果 :术后 4周 ,实验组的缺损由透明样软骨样组织充填 ,术后 12周 ,软骨及软骨下骨组织基本修复 ;在对照组缺损 ,软骨下骨在术后 12周亦基本修复 ,但表层软骨主要由纤维组织修复。结论 :骨髓基质细胞来源丰富 ,采集方便 ,经体外培养增殖后 ,足量的未分化细胞与Ⅱ型胶原凝胶载体相结合 ,修复关节软骨缺损的效果较好。     

脂肪源干细胞修复兔膝关节全层软骨缺损研究

[目的]观察评价兔膝关节髌股关节面中心人工制造全层关节软骨缺损后,单纯脂肪源干细胞复合海藻酸钙凝胶移植到软骨缺损处对关节全层软骨缺损的修复效果,以探索关节软骨缺损修复简单有效的途径。[方法]新西兰大白兔27只随机分为A、B、C三组,A组关节软骨缺损处置入海藻酸钙凝胶,B组软骨缺损处不做任何处理,C组缺损处置入未经诱导的脂肪源干细胞复合海藻酸钙凝胶,分别于术后第4、8、12周处死动物,通过大体、组织切片观察以及透射电镜等技术手段对修复效果进行观测,采用改良的Wakitani评分标准对修复组织进行评分,所得评分采用统计软件SPSS 11.5进行统计学分析。[结果]A、B组软骨缺损处为纤维组织状物填充,组织学切片可见为原纤维覆盖,C组软骨缺损处为类透明软骨组织填充,组织切片可见类软骨细胞及其周围的陷窝,电镜下可见细胞周围大量胶原纤维,C组在各个时期与A组、B组的评分比较差异都具有统计学意义（P〈0.01）,示C组修复效果较其他两组为优。[结论]单纯脂肪源干细胞复合海藻酸钙凝胶可有效修复关节软骨全层缺损。     

培养软骨移植修复关节软骨缺损的实验研究

目的：为探讨一种新的关节软骨缺损修复方法。方法：将体外培养２周形成软骨样组织,移植修复兔关节软骨全层缺损。于移植术后２、４、８周分别行功能评价、大体形态及组织学检查。结果：全部实验兔于术后２周内恢复正常活动。２周时移植修复组织由非成熟透明软骨组成。４周时部分移植组出现成熟透明软骨。８周时移植组关节软骨缺损全部由成熟透明软骨充填修复,修复组织与邻近关节软骨融合。培养软骨移植修复关节软骨全层缺损明显优于自身修复（Ｐ＜００１）。结论：本实验提示使用具有高有丝分裂率的软骨细胞,经离心管培养形成骺软骨样组织,植入关节软骨全层缺损后,软骨细胞生长良好,逐渐成熟和转化,能发挥良好的修复作用。     

Restoration of arthritic cartilage defects using autologous chondrocytes transplantation is superior to cartilage-paste graft in rabbits

This study compared the articular cartilage repair potential of cultured chondrocytes transplantation with bone-cartilage paste-graft in the resurfacing of full-thickness defects without breaching of the subchondral bone plate in rabbit knees. A 5 x 5-mm articular cartilage defect was created in the patellar groove of the femur. Three months following creation, the defect was filled with cultured autologous chondrocytes (group 1) or bone-cartilage paste (group 2). A control group of untreated defects was followed for 1 year. The reparative tissue was analyzed macroscopically, histologically, and by immunohistochemistry 3-12 months post-transplantation. The surfaces of the reparative tissue in group 1 were smooth, and the defects were filled with reparative tissue that resembled hyaline cartilage. The composition of the repair tissue more closely resembled cartilage, as demonstrated by cartilage-specific stains. In contrast, the reparative tissue in group 2 was fibrous and exhibited markers of mesenchymal stem cells and bone formation. Transplantation of cultured chondrocytes into a full-thickness defect in the rabbit generates a biologic substitute tissue that resembles native articular cartilage with living cells capable of synthesizing the surrounding cartilage matrix. In contrast, analysis of the healing response to the paste-graft technique failed to show cartilage-like characteristics. This information may be clinically applicable to direct the use of these treatments in chondral injuries.     

Repair of articular cartilage defects with cultured chondrocytes in Atelocollagen gel

We attempted to repair full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbit knee joints with allogeneic cultured chondrocytes embedded in Atelocollagen gel. An articular cartilage defect was created on the patellar groove of the femur. The defect was filled with chondrocytes cultured in the collagen gel and covered with periosteal flap (G group). In three other experimental groups, the same defects were transplanted with chondrocytes in monolayer culture with periosteal flap (M group), periosteal graft only (P group), or left empty (E group). At 4, 12, and 24 weeks after operation, the reparative tissue was analyzed macroscopically and histologically. At 4 weeks after operation, the surfaces of the reparative tissue were smooth, and the defects were filled with reparative tissues that resembled hyaline cartilage in all four groups. However, the reparative tissues degenerated gradually with time in the M, P, and E groups. In contrast, in the G group, the reparative tissue retained its thickness, and there was a steady integration of the grafted tissue into the adjacent normal cartilage at 24 weeks after operation. The results suggest that transplantation of allogeneic chondrocytes cultured in Atelocollagen gel is effective in repairing an articular cartilage defect.     

Repair of articular cartilage defects with cultured chondrocytes on polysulphonic membrane: experimental studies in rabbits

INTRODUCTION: Autologous osteochondral transplantation is one method that can be used to create hyaline or hyaline-like repair in a defect area. The purpose of the present study was to repair full-thickness articular cartilage defects in 9 rabbit knee joints with autologous cultured chondrocytes. METHODS: An articular cartilage defect was created on the patellar groove of the femur. The defect was filled with chondrocytes cultured in vitro and placed into the knee on a polysulphonic membrane. At 8 weeks after the operation, the reparative tissue was analyzed macroscopically and histologically. RESULTS: At 8 weeks after the operation, the surfaces of the reparative tissue were smooth, and the defects were filled with mature hyaline cartilage in 5 cases. In 2 cases, the reparative hyaline cartilage was immature and there was worse integration of grafted tissue into the adjacent normal cartilage. In 2 cases, the surface of the grafted area was irregular, and the reparative tissue was disintegrated and incompletely differentiated. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that transplantation of autologous chondrocytes cultured in vitro and placed into the knee on polysulphonic membrane is effective in repairing an articular cartilage defect.     

A new biotechnology for articular cartilage repair: subchondral implantation of a composite of interconnected porous hydroxyapatite, synthetic polymer (PLA-PEG), and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)

OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage repair remains a major obstacle in tissue engineering. We recently developed a novel tool for articular cartilage repair, consisting of a triple composite of an interconnected porous hydroxyapatite (IP-CHA), recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), and a synthetic biodegradable polymer [poly-d,l-lactic acid/polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG)] as a carrier for rhBMP-2. In the present study, we evaluated the capacity of the triple composite to induce the regeneration of articular cartilage. METHODS: Full-thickness cartilage defects were created in the trochlear groove of 52 New Zealand White rabbits. Sixteen defects were filled with the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/PLA-PEG/IP-CHA composite (group I), 12 with PLA-PEG/IP-CHA (group II), 12 with IP-CHA alone (group III), and 12 were left empty (group IV). The animals were killed 1, 3, and 6 weeks after surgery, and the gross appearance of the defect sites was assessed. The harvested tissues were examined radiographically and histologically. RESULTS: One week after implantation with the BMP/PLA-PEG/IP-CHA composite (group I), vigorous repair had occurred in the subchondral defect. It contained an agglomeration of mesenchymal cells which had migrated from the surrounding bone marrow either directly, or indirectly via the interconnecting pores of the IP-CHA scaffold. At 6 weeks, these defects were completely repaired. The regenerated cartilage manifested a hyaline-like appearance, with a mature matrix and a columnar organization of chondrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The triple composite of rhBMP-2, PLA-PEG, and IP-CHA promotes the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects within as short a period as 3 weeks in the rabbit model. Hence, this novel cell-free implant biotechnology could mark a new development in the field of articular cartilage repair.     

骨髓基质细胞源性软骨细胞修复兔全层关节软骨缺损

目的观察体外诱导骨髓基质细胞(MSCs)源性软骨细胞在兔股骨滑车关节面全层软骨缺损修复中的作用. 方法高密度传代培养第3代诱导MSCs分化为软骨细胞,以酸溶性Ⅰ型胶原为载体,两者混合后形成凝胶样植入物(细胞浓度为5×106/ml).于36只新西兰大耳白兔一侧股骨滑车关节面造成3 mm×5 mm全层关节软骨缺损,凝胶样植入为实验侧;另一侧分别为单纯胶原植入组(18个膝关节)和空白对照组(18个膝关节).术后4、8、12、24、32和48周取材观察缺损修复情况及新生组织的类型.参照Pineda标准对新生组织评分. 结果实验侧术后4周,植入细胞类似软骨细胞,周围有异染基质,形成透明软骨样组织;8周,深层有软骨下骨形成,软骨细胞层较正常关节软骨厚;12周,新生软骨厚度减小,与正常软骨相近,细胞呈柱状排列,结构与正常关节软骨相似,软骨下骨形成,潮线恢复;24周,新生软骨厚度较正常薄,约占55%,表面平整,潮线附近仍有肥大的软骨细胞;32周,潮线附近无肥大软骨细胞;48周,组织结构与32周时基本相同,为类透明软骨.Pineda评分24、32和48周间无差异,与4周比较有统计学意义(P＜0.05).实验组2～48周期间关节功能良好.单纯胶原组与空白对照组缺损无修复,48周时软骨下骨外露,关节退变;关节功能逐渐减退,动度受限. 结论 MSCs源性软骨细胞移植体内可形成透明样软骨组织,24周后新生软骨特性稳定,48周时为透明样软骨,能维持良好的关节功能.     

The chondrogenic repair response of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in rat full-thickness articular cartilage defects

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to develop a rat model of full-thickness articular cartilage defects that is suitable for detailed molecular analyses of the regenerative repair of cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The V-shaped full-thickness defects (width: 0.7 mm; depth: 0.8 mm; and length: 4mm) were created in the femoral patellar groove of 6 weeks old male rats using a custom-built twin-blade device. Prior to starting the repair experiments, our device was examined for its accuracy and reliability in generating defects. Then, the time course of the repair response in these cartilage defects was examined using a semi-quantitative histological grading scale. The expression of chondrogenic differentiation markers in the reparative regions was examined with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Our device creates full-thickness articular cartilage defects uniformly. In these defects, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells filled the defect cavities (4 days) and initiated chondrogenic differentiation at the center of the defect (7 days). Cartilage formation was observed in the same region (2 weeks). Finally, hyaline-like articular cartilage and subchondral bone layers were reconstituted in their appropriate locations (4 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: We have successfully developed a rat model containing identically sized full-thickness defects of articular cartilage that can undergo chondrogenic repair in a reproducible fashion.     

应用骨形态发生蛋白(BMP)修复关节软骨缺损的实验研究

目的探讨关节软骨全层缺损应用骨形态发生蛋白修复的效果。方法于2004年5月至2005年12月,30只新西兰种成年兔随机分为A,B,C三组,每只兔子左膝股骨髁间凹做一大小为4mm×5mm×2.5mm的全层关节软骨缺损。A,B组缺损内分别填充骨形态发生蛋白/纤维蛋白胶(BMP/FG)及FG,C组为空白。术后28周对缺损修复情况行大体形态、组织学和电镜观察。结果BMP/FG组,缺损组织以透明软骨修复,接近正常组织,而FG组和空白组则以纤维组织修复为主。结论BMP/FG能较好的完成关节骨软骨全层缺损的修复,并随着时间的延长修复的软骨越接近正常软骨,但修复软骨缺损的组织与邻近正常软骨组织连接性仍不是十分理想。     

Inhibition of chondrogenesis by parathyroid hormone in vivo during repair of full-thickness defects of articular cartilage.

We studied the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on differentiation of chondroprogenitor cells during the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects. Three-millimeter cylindrical full-thickness articular cartilage defects, which are small enough to be resurfaced spontaneously by hyaline cartilage, were created in the femoral trochlea of the rabbit knee. Recombinant human PTH(1-84) (hPTH[1-84]) (25 ng/h) then was administered into the joint cavity with an osmotic pump, or in control animals, saline alone was administered. The animals were killed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. At 1 week, the defects were filled with undifferentiated cells, regardless of the PTH treatments. By 8 weeks, well-developed cartilage covered the defects with reconstitution of subchondral bone up to the original bone-articular cartilage junction. In contrast, no evidence of chondrogenic differentiation was seen at any time during the experimental period in the defects treated with PTH. The reparative tissues also were examined immunohistochemically using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and anti-PTH/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor antibodies. Interestingly, the chondroprogenitor cells that filled the defects expressed PTH/PTHrP receptor, suggesting that these cells are capable of responding to PTH/PTHrP signaling before overt chondrogenesis. Application of PTH did not interfere with proliferation but inhibited chondrogenic differentiation of the cells resulting in the formation of fibrous tissue that lost the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor within 4 weeks.     

Active proliferation of mesenchymal cells prior to the chondrogenic repair response in rabbit full-thickness defects of articular cartilage

OBJECTIVES: In full-thickness articular defects, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) participates in the chondrogenic repair response which occurs in a defect-size dependent manner. Here we demonstrate that FGF-2 plays a critical role in the proliferation of pre-chondrogenic mesenchymal cells during chondrogenic induction. METHODS: Three-millimeter- or 5-mm-diameter cylindrical defects were created in the femoral trochlea of the rabbit knee. The defects received sterile saline or FGF-2 (50 pg/h) via an osmotic pump for the initial 2 weeks. We assessed the proliferative capacity of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the reparative tissue with the anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoclonal antibody. Using a total of 180 rabbits, we performed three sets of experiments. RESULTS: In the 3-mm-diameter defects, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells spontaneously initiated chondrogenic differentiation within 2 weeks, resulting in the regeneration of surfacing articular cartilage concomitantly with the repair of subchondral bone. No evidence of chondrogenesis was seen in the 5-mm-diameter defects, whereas application of FGF-2 promoted successful regeneration of articular cartilage. In the 3-mm-diameter defects and in the FGF-2-treated 5-mm defects, PCNA immunoreactivity was widely detected in undifferentiated cells in the reparative tissue at 1 and 2 weeks after creation of the defects. In contrast, in the 5-mm-diameter defects without FGF-2 treatment, the PCNA-positive cells were found at a significantly lower incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Active expansion of undifferentiated cell population mediated by FGF-2 is required to initiate and support a chondrogenic repair response in full-thickness defects of articular cartilage. Endogenous FGF-2 could not meet the requirements of growth signaling in the center of larger sized defects.     

Microfracture and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) synergistically stimulate articular cartilage repair

OBJECTIVE: Microfracture is used to treat articular cartilage injuries, but leads to the formation of fibrocartilage rather than native hyaline articular cartilage. Since bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) induces cartilage differentiation, we hypothesized that the addition of the morphogen would improve the repair tissue generated by microfracture. We determined the effects of these two treatments alone and in combination on the quality and quantity of repair tissue formed in a model of full-thickness articular cartilage injury in adolescent rabbits. DESIGN: Full-thickness defects were made in the articular cartilage of the patellar grooves of forty, 15-week-old rabbits. Eight animals were then assigned to (1) no further treatment (control), (2) microfracture, (3) BMP-7, (4) microfracture with BMP-7 in a collagen sponge (combination treatment), and (5) microfracture with a collagen sponge. Animals were sacrificed after 24 weeks at 39 weeks of age. The extent of healing was quantitated by determining the thickness and the surface area of the repair tissue. The quality of the repair tissue was determined by grading specimens using the International Cartilage Repair Society Visual Histological Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Compared to controls, BMP-7 alone increased the amount of repair tissue without affecting the quality of repair tissue. Microfracture improved both the quantity and surface smoothness of repair tissue. Compared to either single treatment, the combination of microfracture and BMP-7 increased both the quality and quantity of repair tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Microfracture and BMP-7 act synergistically to stimulate cartilage repair, leading to larger amounts of repair tissue that more closely resembles native hyaline articular cartilage.