SURVIVAL OF CELLS AFTER INTRAARTICULAR TRANSPLANTATION OF FRESH ALLOGRAFTS OF THE PATELLAR AND ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS - DNA-PROBE ANALYSIS IN A GOAT MODEL

The fate of donor cells in fresh allografts of the patellar and anterior cruciate ligaments was assessed after transplantation of the allografts as substitutes for the anterior cruciate ligament in goats. DNA-probe analysis was used to distinguish between the DNA of individual goats. Donor DNA was completely replaced by recipient DNA in both the transplanted patellar and anterior cruciate ligaments within a four-week period. Simultaneous full-thickness skin transplants in the same animals were not rejected during the interval of rapid loss of donor DNA from the allografts. The absence of rejection of the skin grafts at the one-week interval suggests that no pre-existing antibody associated with an immune reaction was responsible for the rapid loss of DNA in the allografts. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cells from fresh allografts of anterior cruciate and patellar ligaments did not survive intra-articular transplantation in this model. The expense and logistics of use of fresh or cryopreserved allografts in reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in humans need additional justification if the transplanted living cells do not survive.