engleski

Characterization of newly-formed tissue after nasal septum cartilage biopsy

Introduction. Regenerative potential of nasal chondrocytes (NC) and NC-based cartilage tissues for the repair of articular cartilage defects was previously demonstrated in several preclinical and clinical studies. To isolate nasal chondrocytes, nasal septum biopsy must be performed. This procedure leaves septum with a small perforation that fills in over time. Aim of this study is to characterize the tissue formed at the site of perforation on a large animal model. Materials and methods. Nasal septum with perichondrium layer was harvested from 18 sheep. Two and six months after the biopsy procedure, nasal septum containing the place of the previous biopsy and surrounding tissue was explanted. Explanted samples were embedded in paraffin, sectioned and used for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Results. Two and six months after the biopsy, perforation was filled with newly-formed tissue. Hematoxylin eosin (HE) and Alcian blue staining of sections showed formation of irregular dense connective tissue at the site of perforation with the presence of blood vessels and seromucous glands in both two and six-month group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed positive staining for collagen type I of the newly-formed and the surrounding tissue. Nasal septum cartilage was negatively stained for collagen type I. Collagen type II was present in nasal septum cartilage but absent in the newly-formed tissue. Conclusion. The study confirmed low regenerative potential of cartilaginous tissue two and six months after the biopsy procedure in large animal pre-clinical model. Funding for this research has been received from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 681103, BIO-CHIP.

nasal chondrocytes, nasal septum, cartilage regeneration, perichondrium

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