METHOD FOR CULTURING CHONDROCYTES AND USES FOR TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS AND CHONDRAL LESIONS

摘要

The relates to proliferation and prevention of dedifferentiation of chondrocytes, that can advantageously be performed, when culturing in vitro, by a method comprising culturing said cells in a medium having a physiological level of tonicity. Preferably, said medium has a tonicity of 350 — 480 mOsm, more preferably a tonicity of about 380 mOsm. In another embodiment, said physiological level of tonicity is also applied during isolation of the cells. Advantageously, the proliferation of the cells in such a method comprises passaging of the cells. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the chondrocytes are isolated from a subject having osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Further preferred is the addition of calcineurin inhibitors and/or COX-2 inhibitors to said medium. The medium can further be used in all instances in which chondrocytic repair in vivo is needed, thus also with ACI and MACI protocols.