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

Aim: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.