Rocky S. Tuan, PhD, Cartilage Biology and Orthopaedics Branch, NIAMS:

Adult Stem Cell-Based Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

Research in the Cartilage Biology and Orthopaedics Branch is focused on the application of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the engineering of functional constructs for the repair and regeneration of diseased and/or damaged skeletal tissues. The research project involves the isolation and propagation of multipotent, adult human MSCs from bone marrow, trabecular bone and other tissue sources, and the induction of their differentiation into skeletal lineages, including chondrocytes and osteoblasts. By seeding these cells in custom-designed biomaterial scaffolds, including those fabricated using electrospun nanofibrous polymers, we are attempting to produce skeletal tissue constructs that exhibit properties comparable to native tissues. Both in vitro and in vivo animal models are being used to assess the clinical applicability of these approaches for skeletal tissue repair.

Experimental techniques used include:

• adult human stem cell isolation and culture
• molecular and histological analysis of cell differentiation
• use of three-dimensional biomaterial scaffold for tissue engineering
• gene delivery into adult stem cells
• analysis of animal models of osteoarthritis

The research team in CBOB consists of Principal Investigators, research and postdoctoral fellows, orthopaedic surgery residents and faculty, post-baccalaureate research assistants, and graduate students.

Relevance to Women’s Health
Degenerative joint diseases account for half of all chronic conditions in persons aged 65 and over. Osteoarthritis, the most prevalent joint disease, is more common in women than men. Current treatment protocols are mostly based on pain reduction, suppression of inflammation, and limited surgical procedures. Total joint replacement of severely degenerated joints, while effective, has limited life span. There is therefore a demonstrated need to develop more effective and biologically-based treatments. Cartilage tissue engineering is an emerging area of research that potentially offers the most ideal approach to cartilage repair.

Selected Publications
Li WJ, Tuli R, Okafor C, Derfoul A, Danielson KG, Hall DJ, Tuan RS. A three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering using human mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials. 2005; 26: 599-609.
Tuli R, Nandi S, Li WJ, Tuli S, Huang X, Manner PA, Laquerriere P, Noth U, Hall DJ, Tuan RS. Human Mesenchymal Progenitor Cell-Based Tissue Engineering of a Single-Unit Osteochondral Construct. Tissue Eng. 2004; 10: 1169-1179.
Baksh D, Song L, Tuan RS. Adult mesenchymal stem cells: characterization, differentiation, and application in cell and gene therapy. J Cell Mol Med. 2004; 8: 301-16.