Cell-based osteoprotegerin therapy for debris-induced aseptic prosthetic loosening on a murine model

Abstract

Exogenous OPG gene modification appears a therapeutic strategy for osteolytic aseptic loosening. The feasibility and efficacy of a cell-based OPG gene delivery approach were investigated using a murine model of knee prosthesis failure. A titanium pin was implanted into mouse proximal tibia to mimic a weight-bearing knee arthroplasty, followed by titanium-particles challenge to induce periprosthetic osteolysis. Mouse fibroblast-like synoviocytes were transduced in vitro with either AAV-OPG or AAV-LacZ before transfused into the osteolytic prosthetic joint 3 weeks post surgery. Successful transgene expression at the local site was confirmed 4 weeks later after sacrifice. Biomechanical pull-out test indicated a significant restoration of implant stability following the cell-based OPG gene therapy. Histology revealed that inflammatory pseudo-membranes existed ubiquitously at bone-implant interface in control groups, while only observed sporadically in OPG gene-modified groups. TRAP+ osteoclasts and TNFα, IL-1β, CD68+ expressing cells were significantly reduced in periprosthetic tissues of OPG gene-modified mice. No transgene dissemination or tumorigenesis was detected in remote organs and tissues. Data suggest that cell based ex vivo OPG gene therapy was comparable in efficacy with in vivo local gene transfer technique to deliver functional therapeutic OPG activities, effectively halted the debris-induced osteolysis and regained the implant stability in this model.