Comparison of posterior root remnant cells and horn cells of the medial meniscus

ABSTRACT

Purpose/Aim of the study

Previous studies have noted distinctions between medial meniscus posterior root and horn cells. However, the characteristics of root remnant cells have not been explored in detail. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gene expression levels, proliferation, and resistance to mechanical stress of remnant and horn cells.

Materials and Methods

Medial meniscus tissue samples were obtained from patients who underwent total or uni-compartmental knee arthroplasty. Cellular morphology, sry-type HMG box 9, type II collagen, and chondromodulin-I gene expression levels were analyzed. Collagen synthesis was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Proliferation analysis after 4 h-cyclic tensile strain was performed.

Results

Horn cells displayed triangular morphology, whereas root remnant cells appeared fibroblast-like. sry-type HMG box 9 mRNA expression levels were similar in both cells, but type II collagen and chondromodulin-I mRNA expressions were observed only in horn cells. The ratio of type II collagen-positive cells in horn cells was about 10-fold higher than that in root remnant cells, whereas the ratio of sry-type HMG box 9-positive cells was similar. A significant increase in proliferation was observed in root remnant cells compared to that in horn cells. Further, under cyclic tensile strain, the survival rate was higher in root remnant cells than in horn cells.

Conclusions

Medial meniscus root remnant cells showed higher proliferation and resistant properties to cyclic tensile strain than horn cells and showed no chondromodulin-I expression. Preserving the medial meniscus posterior root remnant during pullout repair surgery might maintain mechanical stress-resistant tissue and support healing.

KEYWORDS:

• Medial meniscus
• posterior root remnant cells
• posterior horn cells
• collagen synthesis
• anti-angiogenic gene

Acknowledgments

The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. Ximing Zhang would like to thank Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation for scholarship support (No.19-385). We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Contributions of authors

Takayuki Furumatsu designed the study and prepared the manuscript. Takayuki Furumatsu and Shinichi Miyazawa contributed to the data collection. Ximing Zhang, Yuki Okazaki, and Takaaki Hiranaka contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. All authors have critically reviewed the manuscript, approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this research.