Preliminary clinical experience with the preparation and therapeutic use of autologous osteoblasts and chondrocytes

Particular results of autologous osteoblasts preparation from patient's bone marrow and autologous chondrocytes from cartilage, both for therapeutic application are given. Osteoblastic cells were cultivated from fresh bone marrow in the presence of dexamethasone in alpha MEM medium containing 10% of patient's and 10% of fetal bovine sera and other necessary additives without any cytokine stimuli. Alkaline phosphatase cell surface activity was used as a marker for quick osteoblastic phenotype confirmation. Autologous chondrocytes were enzymatically separated from fresh knee cartilage. Pieces of cartilage, 2 mm(3) in volume, were sufficient for live cellular graft preparation. Viability of chondrocytes obtained by this approach was more than 90%. In both cases, in osteoblasts as well as in chondrocytes, the amount of cells obtained during the 4 week culture, was sufficient for clinical use.