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Localization of vascular endothelial growth factor during the early stages of osteochondral regeneration using a bioabsorbable synthetic polymer scaffold
Author(s) -
Sakata Ryosuke,
Kokubu Takeshi,
Nagura Issei,
Toyokawa Narikazu,
Inui Atsuyuki,
Fujioka Hiroyuki,
Kurosaka Masahiro
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.21502
Subject(s) - regeneration (biology) , chondrogenesis , scaffold , cartilage , vascular endothelial growth factor , anatomy , chondrocyte , sox9 , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , biomedical engineering , vegf receptors , biology , medicine , gene expression , biochemistry , gene
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in chondrogenic differentiation in the growth plate of the epiphysis. This function is necessary for chondrocyte survival in cartilage development. We investigated the localization of VEGF in the osteochondral regeneration process using a bioabsorbable polymer scaffold. Osteochondral defects (5 mm in diameter and 5 mm in depth) were made on the femoral condyle of forty‐eight skeletally mature female Japanese white rabbits. In total, twenty‐four defects were filled with poly( DL ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) scaffolds and the others were left untreated. The regeneration process was investigated macroscopically, histologically, immunohistochemically, and by gene expression analysis. In the early stages of osteochondral regeneration, bone ingrowth was observed in the deep zone of the scaffold with continuous VEGF expression; cartilage regeneration was observed in the superficial zone of the scaffold with decreased VEGF expression. In contrast, when the defect was left untreated, VEGF localization was observed throughout the entire defect area, and cartilage regeneration at the articular surface was delayed. We conclude that decrease in localization of VEGF at the articular surface in the postoperative early stage is closely related to the progression of cartilage regeneration in osteochondral defects. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:252–259, 2012