Mononuclear-cell-implatation

AUTOLOGOUS MONONUCLEAR CELL
IMPLANTATION THERAPY FOR
CARTILAGE REPAIR TREATMENT

Olbia, porto cervo

This is a cutting-edge method based on the use of a cell population found in our body, with the aim of regenerating tissues (in our case the articular cartilage) damaged by pathological events of different nature.

OUR AIM

Our aim is to obtain the highest number of stem cells in the specific area for as long as possible, encouraging differentiation.

The biological presupposition lies in the richness of biochemical and cellular phenomena inherent in the body’s response to tissue damage and tissue regeneration. The mononuclear phagocyte system is found at the interior of our body’s and help to regulate and balance out the activity of mesenchymal stem cells, the only cells able to differentiate themselves, resulting in tissue regeneration.
The cell population in question is therefore the macrophage one, which in the past was considered as being designated “cleaner” of the interior of the immune system.
Instead, its role has proved to be of central importance in the activation and modulation of the response to tissue damage. This may be traumatic, surgical, degenerative, firstly through the activation of the M1 type subpopulation that stimulates the responsive inflammatory process thus encouraging the body’s first response to the insult.
However, the first phase also determines the transition to the progressive activation of type M2 macrophages, cells with anti-inflammatory action and able to activate,
regulate and modulate the “shift”, or transformation, of mesenchymal stem cells (pluripotent stem-type cells) towards the differentiated population of the tissue (the chondrocytes in cartilage tissue), triggering the reparative-regenerative process.
The revolutionary aspect of this method is precisely that – to intervene on the previous passage of the stem cell, enriching and enhancing the
process
in advance in order to determine its transformation into a differentiated cell.
In practice, this translates into a more powerful, stable and lasting regenerative response. The “target” tissues of this process are the cartilage, bone, muscle and tendons.

The indications must be as rigorous as possible to encourage a successful outcome of the method: the patient must have good biological potential, therefore their age should not exceed the sixth decade of life. A young patient would certainly be the best candidate.
In fact, as we age, the repair potential of the tissues becomes reduced and an autologous mononuclear cell implant may not be capable of triggering an effective process.
Extended damages are obviously less probable in benefitting from a restorative boost.
Angular defects of the lower limbs, or mechanical conditions of overload of the damaged part should be corrected, where indicated, before treatment. The already established arthritic disease which effects both sides of the joint (for example, in the knee, the tibia and the femur) cannot effectively be treated and therefore, in such cases, other therapeutic options should be considered by the patient and specialist.
The contraindications are currently related to tumor pathology.
In detail, the procedure involves the intravenous collection of blood from the patient which, through a closed and sterile circuit, passes through a filter system that holds back the mononuclear cells, obtaining a concentrate that fills a 10 cc syringe that is infiltrated into the joint or site to be treated. The technique can be carried out both as an outpatient or in the operating room during a surgical procedure, depending on the specifications.
It is therefore essential to observe a period of relative “active” rest with a gradual recovery of physical activities according to the location, type and extent of the injury treated.
This cellular concentrate can be administered further so as to use it to enrich tissue scaffolds, that is to say, grafts of biologically active tissue or material, which helps to encourage their regeneration or replacement. All joints can be treated, even if, in practice, the technique is aimed more towards the large joints of the limbs