Cell Populations from Ligament Tissue - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterisation of Stem Cell Populations Isolated from Ligament Tissue
IRAS ID
75487
Contact name
Rachel A Oldershaw
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major ligament within the knee joint. The ACL controls movement of the lower leg (tibia) preventing it from moving too far in front of the thigh (femur) and from rotating around the joint. The ACL therefore plays an important role in stabilising the knee.
Rupture of the ACL is a frequent occurrence within the general population and there is a requirement for surgical reconstruction to restore stability and full range movement of the knee. Rupture of the ACL occurs as a result of trauma to the knee joint, primarily as a result of sporting activity or through chronic disease (e.g. osteoarthritis) which progressively weakens the biomechanical strength of the ligament tissue. Individuals who are ACL deficient may have an impaired quality of life and destabilisation of the knee joint can increase the risk of further damage to articular tissues and accelerated disease progression.
Despite the clinical importance of the ACL, very little is known about the biology of the tissue. Understanding the differences between clinical groups will facilitate the development of preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions. Stem cells are resident in adult tissues and are characterised by self-renewal and cell lineage-specific differentiation enabling repair of tissue damage. The ability of stem cells to perform this role is vital to maintaining tissue health and functionality. We hypothesise that there is a link between the quality of stem cells found within ligament tissue and susceptibility for disease progression and rupture.
We will use a variety of laboratory techniques to evaluate the biology and function of stem cells taken from 1) ruptured ligament following trauma, 2) ligament affected by chronic disease and 3) normal intact ligament tissue to determine the contribution that stem cells make to ligament health and function.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0324
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion