Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Chondrogenic Progenitor Cells and Articular Cartilage Repair

Constance R Chu and Nicole Friel

Treatment of articular cartilage injury is challenging due in part to the paucity of potential repair cells within articular cartilage. While chondrocytes can be expanded in culture and returned to the site of injury, autologous applications require removal of healthy articular cartilage - a limited resource. Additional sources of chondrogenic progenitor cells that may be suitable for articular cartilage repair include Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) isolated from more abundant tissues such as bone marrow, synovium, infrapatellar fat pad, subcutaneous fat, periosteum,perichondrium, and muscle.