Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Implants for the Treatment of Focal Chondral Defects of the Knee in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Osteoarthritis remains an unfortunate long-term consequence of focal cartilage defects of the knee. Associated with functional loss and pain, it has necessitated the exploration of new therapies to regenerate cartilage before significant deterioration and subsequent joint replacement take place. Recent studies have investigated a multitude of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sources and polymer scaffold compositions. It is uncertain how different combinations affect the extent of integration of native and implant cartilage and the quality of new cartilage formed. Implants seeded with bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) have demonstrated promising results in restoring these defects, largely through in vitro and animal studies. A PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL) to identify studies using BMSC-seeded implants in animal models of focal cartilage defects of the knee. Quantitative results from the histological assessment of integration quality were extracted. Repair cartilage morphology and staining characteristics were also recorded. Meta-analysis demonstrated that high-quality integration was achieved, exceeding that of cell-free comparators and control groups. This was associated with repair tissue morphology and staining properties which resembled those of native cartilage. Subgroup analysis showed better integration outcomes for studies using poly-glycolic acid-based scaffolds. In conclusion, BMSC-seeded implants represent promising strategies for the advancement of focal cartilage defect repair. While a greater number of studies treating human patients is necessary to realize the full clinical potential of BMSC therapy, high-quality integration scores suggest that these implants could generate repair cartilage of substantial longevity.