The joint cartilage – the synovium: “the biological tropism”

The cases of both joint cartilage lesions and osteoarthritis have been increasing in number. In the last year of current bone and joint decade, they have still been seen as major locomotor system problems affecting the human life unfavorably. In order to find novel and biological treatment methods for the reconstruction of the damaged articular surface, basic and applied investigations and surgical techniques have been still developing. The research areas in this field includes: tissue engineering with artificial matrices, cellular and molecular biology involving growth factors and cellular implants and gene therapies. In the last few years, the use of mesenchymal stromal cells as the source of articular cartilage – which is produced by the novel tissue engineering techniques – has been recommended as a favorable alternative cell to chondrocytes. Their multipotent and regenerative properties have generated great interest in their use for therapeutic purposes in clinical settings. Beside its chondrogenetic properties, the synovial membrane also contains mesenchymal stromal cells. Its importance in the treatment of cartilage lesions has been increasing from “in vitro” laboratory to “in vivo” clinical settings. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.