Chondrogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in agarose culture.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow (hBM-MSCs) can differentiate into chondrogenic cells for the potential treatment of injured articular cartilage. To evaluate agarose gels as a supportive material for chondrogenesis of hBM-MSCs, this study examined chondrogenesis of hBM-MSCs in the agarose cultures. Pellet cultures were employed to confirm the chondrogenic potential of the hBM-MSCs that were used in agarose cultures. The hBM-MSCs were seeded in 2% agarose constructs at the initial cell-seeding densities of 3, 6, and 9 x 10(6) cells/ml while each of pellets was formed using 2.5 x 10(5) cells. Chondrogenesis of hBM-MSCs was induced by culturing cell-agarose constructs and pellets for 21 days in the presence of a defined medium containing transforming growth factor beta3 (TGF-beta3). The analysis of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that hBM-MSCs of agarose and pellet cultures expressed the chondrogenic markers of collagen type II and aggrecan in the presence of TGF-beta3. The deposition of cartilage-specific macromolecules was detected in both agarose and pellet cultures by histological and immunohistochemical assessments. Chondrogenesis of hBM-MSCs in agarose gels directly correlated with the initial cell-seeding density, with the cell-agarose constructs of higher initial cell-seeding density exhibiting more cartilage-specific gene expressions. This study establishes a basic model for future studies on chondrogenesis of hBM-MSCs using the agarose cultures.

Huang CY ，Reuben PM ，D'Ippolito G ，Schiller PC ，Cheung HS ... -  《-》

Effects of cyclic compressive loading on chondrogenesis of rabbit bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Huang CY ，Hagar KL ，Frost LE ，Sun Y ，Cheung HS ... -  《STEM CELLS》

Evaluation of adult equine bone marrow- and adipose-derived progenitor cell chondrogenesis in hydrogel cultures.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived progenitor cells (ADPCs) are potential alternatives to autologous chondrocytes for cartilage resurfacing strategies. In this study, the chondrogenic potentials of these cell types were compared by quantifying neo-tissue synthesis and assaying gene expression and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components of cartilage. Adult equine progenitor cells encapsulated in agarose or self-assembling peptide hydrogels were cultured in the presence or absence of TGFbeta1 for 3 weeks. In BM-MSCs-seeded hydrogels, TGFbeta1 stimulated ECM synthesis and accumulation 3-41-fold relative to TGFbeta1-free culture. In ADPC cultures, TGFbeta1 stimulated a significant increase in ECM synthesis and accumulation in peptide (18-29-fold) but not agarose hydrogels. Chromatographic analysis of BM-MSC-seeded agarose and peptide hydrogels cultured in TGFbeta1 medium showed extensive synthesis of aggrecan-like proteoglycan monomers. ADPCs seeded in peptide hydrogel also synthesized aggrecan-like proteoglycans, although to a lesser extent than seen in BM-MSC hydrogels, whereas aggrecan-like proteoglycan synthesis in ADPC-seeded agarose was minimal. RT-PCR analysis of TGFbeta1 cultures showed detectable levels of type II collagen gene expression in BM-MSC but not ADPC cultures. Histological analysis of TGFbeta1-cultured peptide hydrogels showed the deposition of a continuous proteoglycan- and type II collagen rich ECM for BM-MSCs but not ADPCs. Therefore, this study showed both protein and gene expression evidence of superior chondrogenesis of BM-MSCs relative to ADPCs.

Kisiday JD ，Kopesky PW ，Evans CH ，Grodzinsky AJ ，McIlwraith CW ，Frisbie DD ... -  《-》

Chondrogenic differentiation of bovine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in different hydrogels: influence of collagen type II extracellular matrix on MSC chondrogenesis.

Bosnakovski D ，Mizuno M ，Kim G ，Takagi S ，Okumura M ，Fujinaga T ... -  《BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING》

Gelatin microspheres containing TGF-beta3 enhance the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in modified pellet culture.

Fan H ，Zhang C ，Li J ，Bi L ，Qin L ，Wu H ，Hu Y ... -  《-》