The research in this thesis aimed at creating clinically applicable treatment options and
improved understanding of knee joint preservation. Some of the findings described in this
thesis could have a direct impact on patient care, such as the identification of targets for
patient selection for PRP treatment and the importance of stability of the ACL for
protection of the meniscus. Other studies provide a base for follow-up research that
could benefit patients in the future. We have demonstrated the potency of cartilage and
meniscus progenitors for tissue engineering and possibly in future cell therapies. We have
shown different approaches for meniscus replacement and started an RCT on one-stage
cartilage transplantation that will bring us a step closer to providing this regenerative
treatment in clinical practice. Lastly, we have unraveled another piece in the puzzle of
MSC-induced chondrogenesis, that can improve MSC based treatments and increases
our understanding of the communication in the joint.