Single intra-articular injection of human synovial membrane MSC from grade IV knee osteoarthritis patient improve cartilage repair in OA rat model

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of therapy of human synovial membrane-derived MSCs (SM-MSC) from OA grade IV patients in treating knee OA. SM-MSC were isolated from patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery, cultured to the fourth passage, and characterized using flow cytometry. Differentiation potential was assessed through lineage-specific staining. Osteoarthritis was induced in 24 Wistar rats via monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). The rats were divided into three groups: negative control, OA control, and OA treated with SM-MSC. Radiological, histopathological, and molecular analyses were conducted to evaluate cartilage repair and gene expression. Flow cytometry confirmed the MSC phenotype of SM-MSC, and successful differentiation was observed. Radiological and histopathological analyses showed significant improvement in the SM-MSC treated group, with reduced cartilage damage and higher Safranin O staining compared to the OA control group. Gene expression analysis indicated increased type-2 collagen (COL-2) expression in the SM-MSC treated group, although MMP-13 levels remained unchanged across all groups. Human SM-MSCs from OA grade IV patients significantly improved cartilage repair in an OA rat model, demonstrating their potential as a therapeutic option for OA. To enhance long-term efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects, further studies are needed to optimize treatment protocols, including injection frequency and dosage.