Methods and compositions for regenerating articular cartilage

1. A composition adapted for regenerating articular cartilage in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage comprising:

an infiltration suppressor agent that suppresses or inhibits infiltration of synoviocytes, fibroblasts, or subchondral bone marrow cells into a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is dexamethasone or a combination of dexamethasone and a cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein (CDMP);

and

a columnar growth promoting agent that promotes columnar growth of articular chondrocytes in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the columnar growth promoting agent is an osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein (BMP);

and wherein TGF-β is not present in said composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is dexamethasone.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CDMP is CDMP-1 or CDMP-2.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is a combination of dexamethasone and CDMP-2.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the BMP is selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-9, heterodimers thereof, and combinations thereof.

6. A kit composition for regenerating articular cartilage in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage comprising:

an infiltration suppressor agent that suppresses or inhibits infiltration of synoviocytes, fibroblasts, or subchondral bone marrow cells into a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is dexamethasone or a combination of dexamethasone and a cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein (CDMP);

a columnar growth promoting agent that promotes columnar growth of articular chondrocytes in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the columnar growth promoting agent is an osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein (BMP); and

instructions for administering the infiltration suppressor agent prior to or simultaneously with administering the columnar growth promoting agent to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage

and wherein TGF-β is not present in said kit composition.

7. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the infiltration suppressor is dexamethasone.

8. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the CDMP is CDMP-1 or CDMP-2.

9. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is a combination of dexamethasone and CDMP-2.

10. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the BMP is selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-9, heterodimers thereof, and combinations thereof.

11. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the instructions comprise the step of administering the infiltration suppressor agent and thereafter the step of administering the columnar growth promoting agent to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage.

12. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the instructions comprise the steps of mixing the infiltration suppressor agent with the columnar growth promoting agent and administering the mixture to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage.

13. The kit composition according to claim 6 , wherein the instructions comprise the step of administering the infiltration suppressor agent and thereafter the step of administering a mixture of the infiltration suppressor agent and the columnar growth promoting agent to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage.

14. A composition adapted for regenerating articular cartilage in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage comprising:

an infiltration suppressor agent that suppresses or inhibits infiltration of synoviocytes, fibroblasts, or subchondral bone marrow cells into a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is a combination of dexamethasone and CDMP-2; and

a columnar growth promoting agent that promotes columnar growth of articular chondrocytes in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the columnar growth promoting agent is BMP-7 or BMP-4.

15. A kit composition for regenerating articular cartilage in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage comprising:

an infiltration suppressor agent that suppresses or inhibits infiltration of synoviocytes, fibroblasts, or subchondral bone marrow cells into a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the infiltration suppressor agent is a combination of dexamethasone and a cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-2 (CDMP-2);

a columnar growth promoting agent that promotes columnar growth of articular chondrocytes in a partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage, wherein the columnar growth promoting agent is BMP-7 or BMP-4;

and

instructions for administering said infiltration suppressor agent prior to or simultaneously with administering said columnar growth promoting agent to the partial thickness defect or area of reduced volume of articular cartilage.