Cartilage Field

Regenerative medicine for knee cartilage

Thanks to our knees, we are able to stand, sit, walk, and perform many other motions and postures. Moreover, our knees support our bodies and absorb the shock transmitted from the surface of the ground to our feet during routine movement.
The surfaces of bones that come into contact with other bone are covered with "cartilage". The cartilage that covers joints is called hyaline cartilage, and it is about 2 to 4 mm thick. Hyaline cartilage is constructed of components like cartilage cells and collagen, but it is about 80% water. This water plays the role of cushioning and making the movement of the joints smooth.
However, if the cartilage is lost to injury or osteoarthritis, pain develops, which can make walking difficult.
Cartilage tissue does not have any blood vessels. If it is damaged, there is no way to supply cells to repair the damage or nutrients to increase the number of cells. Accordingly, cartilage does not heal naturally.
Although cartilage tissue cannot heal itself, cartilage cells do have proliferative capacity. Autologous Cultured Cartilage is made by harvesting some of the patient's own cartilage tissue and culturing it in an environment that is conducive to the proliferation of cartilage cells. Transplanting Autologous Cultured Cartilage can be expected to repair cartilage defects.

The use and commercialization of the medicinal products developed by Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. that are referred to on this website are approved only in Japan. A potential use and commercialization in other regions will be subject to the prior granting of a marketing authorization in the given territory and compliance with applicable laws.