P227 - Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate from Tibia and Iliac Crest in Young and Old Patients: A Quality Comparison
- C. Cavallo (Bologna, IT)
- C. Cavallo (Bologna, IT)
- A. Boffa (Bologna, IT)
- G. Merli (Bologna, IT)
- L. De Girolamo (Milano, IT)
- E. Kon (Milano, IT)
- L. Cattini (Bologna, IT)
- B. Grigolo (Bologna, IT)
- G. Filardo (Bologna, IT)
Abstract
Purpose
The real potential of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) remains controversial and many aspects remain to be clarified, including harvest site and age, which could play an important role in determining both the amount of contained MSCs and their quality, and consequently the biological potential of BMAC. Aim of this study was to shed some light on the characteristics of BMAC based on harvest site and patient age.
Methods and Materials
BMAC was obtained from two groups of patients based on age (n=10 per group): 19.0±2.7 years for the younger, 56.8±12.5 for the older group. In the latter, BMAC was obtained from the anterior iliac crest and proximal tibia for a comparative analysis. Mononucleated cell count and fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) assay were performed, together with MSCs phenotype characterization, study of MSCs chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacity, histological staining and spectrophotometric quantification, and analysis of mRNAs expression.
Results
A significantly higher number of mononuclear cells per ml was observed in younger compared to older patients (3.8±1.8×107 vs 1.2±0.8×107, p<0.0005). The number of mononuclear cells obtained from the iliac crest was higher than the 0.3±0.2×107 obtained from the proximal tibia (p<0.0005). This result was confirmed by the CFU-F analysis both at day 10 (15.9±19.4 vs 0.6±1.0, p=0.001) and day 20 (21.7±23.0 vs 2.9±4.2, p=0.006). Cells derived from iliac crest and tibia showed the same phenotypic pattern at flow cytometry, as well as similar chondrogenic and osteogenic potential.
Conclusion
Harvest site and age can affect the quality of BMAC. MSCs obtained from iliac crest and proximal tibia present comparable mesenchymal markers expression as well as osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, but iliac crest BMAC presents a four-time higher number of mononucleated cells and CFU-F compared to the tibia. Age also influences BMAC quality, with a three-time higher number of mononucleated cells in younger patients.