Knee Joints Without Stiffness: A New Dawn in Joint Care Cell Therapy Center
Update Date：2024/12/04，
Views：35
Degenerative knee osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the slow inflammation of the knee joint. Patients often experience knee pain, which worsens after prolonged standing or activity. Other common symptoms include joint stiffness, limited range of motion, and swelling. As the severity of degenerative knee osteoarthritis increases, patients may develop cartilage defects, bone spurs, or joint deformities (such as bowlegs), which significantly affect their quality of life and increase the risk of falls and fractures. It is estimated that approximately 30 million adults worldwide suffer from degenerative knee osteoarthritis, and the number of affected individuals is expected to rise to over 100 million by 2050【1】, making it one of the most common diseases globally.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the prevalence of knee joint degeneration in Taiwan is approximately 15%, with 3.5 million people suffering from joint pain. Among individuals aged 58 and older, 1 in 5 has joint degeneration issues, and over 70% of those aged 70 and above are affected by osteoarthritis, with a higher incidence in women than in men. Osteoarthritis is an irreversible, progressive disease characterized by the gradual destruction of joint cartilage. As the condition worsens over time, it causes significant inconvenience and places a heavy burden on patients and caregivers. To date, there is no stable treatment available to halt or reverse the progression of the disease.
The human adipose tissue is primarily composed of adipocytes (fat cells). Additionally, the tissue contains another type of cell with regenerative and differentiation potential, known as "adipose-derived stem cells." These stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various cell types and play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration.
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a type of adult stem cell classified under the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) branch. These stem cells are multipotent, meaning they have a high differentiation capability. They possess strong proliferative abilities and can differentiate into various cell types, including adipocytes (fat cells), osteocytes (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), myocytes (muscle cells), neurons, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Additionally, ADSCs secrete a variety of growth factors and cytokines that promote tissue and organ repair in the body.
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are applied in cell therapy and tissue/organ regeneration treatments. Since ADSCs are isolated and purified from the patient’s own discarded fat, patient acceptance is relatively high, making it a growing trend in therapeutic approaches. To promote the biotechnology industry nationally, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan amended the Special Regulations in September 2018. This amendment allows medical institutions to submit applications for special approval cases to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Once approved, these therapies can be implemented in medical institutions without the need for the lengthy Phase III clinical trial process.
In clinical treatment options, "autologous" adipose-derived stem cells are recommended as the preferred choice. Using autologous cells avoids the rejection issues that can arise when using "allogeneic" cells. Patients do not need to take immunosuppressive medications, thus preventing a decline in immune function. Therefore, "autologous adipose-derived stem cells" are considered an excellent source for cell therapy in regenerative medicine【2】.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as of December 31, 2022, under the Special Regulations for cell therapy, 30 patients who received autologous adipose-derived stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis were evaluated. The average age of the patients was 64.4 years (range: 40 to 78), with an average follow-up period of 217 days (range: 88 to 929 days). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score for the left side decreased by an average of 63.2%, and for the right side, it decreased by an average of 61.5%. Functional scores on the KOOS, IKDC, and Lysholm scales showed improvements ranging from 39.3% to 77.1%【5】.
Stem cells, as one of the most commonly used cell sources in regenerative medicine, possess the ability for self-renewal and differentiation into various cells of other tissues or organs within the body. This makes stem cells one of the most promising cell types for development in regenerative medicine. In recent years, stem cell therapy has also been applied to treat common orthopedic diseases, such as degenerative arthritis and knee cartilage defects, with the goal of regenerating and repairing degenerated or damaged tissues. This offers the potential for improved treatment options for these prevalent orthopedic conditions.
Sources:
1. Arthritis Foundation Report (2019), p. 19
2. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Cell Therapy Section >> Expert Opinions Link
3. World Journal of Stem Cells. 2019 Apr 26; 11(4): 222–235.
4. Stem Cells. 2014. 32(5):1254-1266.
5. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Analysis of Results for Specific Cell Therapy Technology Effectiveness.
