Additive effects of hyperbaric oxygen and platelet-derived growth factor-BB in chondrocyte transplantation via up-regulation expression of platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor

The present study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in chondrocyte transplantation. In vitro, chondrocytes were treated with HBO, PDGF-BB, and HBO combined with PDGF-BB (H+P). Cell growth was analyzed using cell counting, MTT assay, and FACS analysis. mRNA expression of the PDGF-α receptor (PDGFR-α) and β receptor (PDGFR-β) was detected by RT-PCR. Protein expression of PDGFR-β was detected by Western blotting. In vivo, chondrocytes and PDGF-BBwere suspended in alginate as a transplantation system. Cartilage defects were grafted with this system and with or withoutHBO treatment. ReleasedPDGF-BBconcentration was quantified by ELISA. After 8 weeks, animals were sacrificed and the repaired tissues were examined. In vitro data suggested that each treatment increased cell growth via the up-regulated mRNA expression of PDGFR-α and increased cell accumulation in the S-phase. The H+P treatment was more additive in cell growth and in mRNA and protein expression of PDGFR-β than HBO or PDGF-BB. In vivo results suggested that PDGF-BB delivery lasted for more than 5 weeks. Scoring results showed that each treatment significantly increased the cartilage repair. Safranin-Oand type II collagen staining confirmedthe hyaline-like cartilage regeneration in the repaired tissues. In situ up-regulation of PDGFR-β expression partially explains the additive effect of H+P treatment in cartilage repair. Accordingly, H+P offers a potential treatment method for cartilage repair.