Editorial Commentary: Meniscus Regeneration Based on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: How Far Are We From Clinical Application?

The goal of meniscal tissue engineering is tissue remodeling and functional recovery. Autologous, tissue-engineered adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) sheets promote meniscal regeneration in rabbit meniscal defects in vivo. Moreover, compared with a control group, in the ADSC sheet model, both histologic scores and gene expression are more similar to normal meniscal tissue. ADSC sheets promote meniscal regeneration regardless of whether the defect involves the whole width or inner half of a meniscal defect. Mechanical properties are also important, and experimental data show encouraging mechanical properties of meniscus tissue reconstructed from ADSC sheets. Cell sheet technology is a promising therapeutic strategy for meniscal regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Theoretically, cell sheet transplantation could result in superior outcomes to traditional cell-free scaffolds, and further research is needed before clinical application.