In Vivo Evaluation of Gene Transfer into Mesenchymal Cells (In View of Cartilage Repair)

Gene transfer of specific growth factors is suitable for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of �mesenchymal cells to be used for cartilage regeneration. However, extent and quality of repair tissue formation also depend on biomechanical and metabolic influences that can only be studied in vivo. We describe three methods to evaluate viral gene transfer into mesenchymal cells in animal models of articular cartilage defects, e.g., mouse, rat and miniature pig models, focussing on the repair of hyaline cartilage tissue.