Allogeneic adipose-derived stem cell transplantation on knee osteoarthritis rats and its effect on MMP-13 and DDR2

This study investigated the efficacy of transplantation of allogeneic adipose-derived stem cells (ADMSCs) in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and the effect on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and discoid domain receptor 2 (DDR2). In total, sixty rats were randomly selected. Eleven rats were selected as the blank group. Forty-four rat KOA models were established, and the remaining 5 rats were used for stem cell extraction. The rats were randomly divided into two groups, and the transplantation group was treated with ADMSCs transplantation. The KOA group was intragastrically administered with saline. The expressions of MMP-13 mRNA and DDR2 in rats were detected by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Correlation analysis was performed in MMP-13 mRNA and DDR2 expression levels in the KOA rats. After treatment, the indexes of Lequesne MG knee joints, MMP-13 mRNA and DDR2 in the transplanted rats were significantly lower than those in the KOA group (P<0.05). In the KOA rats, MMP-13 mRNA and DDR2 was positively correlated (r=0.830, P<0.001). Therefore, the transplantation of ADMSCs has a significant effect on the KOA rats, which can effectively improve the knee joint function of KOA rats and reduce the expression of MMP-13 mRNA and DDR2 in rats, and it is worthy of clinical promotion.