Recently, we described that local administration of ASCs in the knee joint in early stage CIOA inhibited synovial activation and largely protected against new cartilage/bone formation within collateral and cruciate ligaments.
Furthermore, cartilage damage was reduced in various layers of the knee joint.
We localized GFPlabeled ASCs within the synovial lining layer in close contact to synovial macrophages.
The immunosuppressive capacity of the ASCs may thereby be stimulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokines released by macrophages during the early phase of CIOA.