Effects of Avocado/Soybean on the Chondrogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Cultured on Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid/Fibrin Hybrid Scaffold

Abstract

<strong>Introduction</strong>: Avocado and soya unsaponifiables (ASU) have been reported to be useful for the treatment of cartilage diseases. The aim of this study was to detect whether avocado/soybean can have any effect on the chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells on polylactic-co-glycolic acid/fibrin hybrid scaffold or not.<br /> <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>The poly<em>-</em>lactic<em>-</em>co<em>-</em>glycolic acid (PLGA)/fibrin scaffolds were seeded with cultured human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs), which were then divided into three groups: control, TGF-β3, and ASU and the results were analyzed 14 days later. The viability of the cells in different groups were assessed by MTT. The expression of chondrogenic-related genes <em>Sox9</em>, <em>type II collagen</em>, <em>Aggrecan</em>, <em>type X collagen</em>, and <em>type I collagen </em>were quantified by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein expression levels of collagen type II and X were evaluated by Western blotting.<br /> <strong>Results: </strong>Enhanced cellular viability was observed in the ASU group compared to the transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-β3) group. Analysis of <em>aggrecan </em>(<em>Agg</em>), <em>type II collagen (Coll2) </em>and <em>SOX9 </em>revealed that ASU and TGF-β3 induce hADSCs on PLGA/fibrin scaffold to differentiate into chondrocytes <em>in-vitro</em>. Moreover, a significant decrease was observed in the expression of type <em>X (Coll10</em>) and <em>I collagen (Coll1) </em>genes in the ASU group compared to the TGF-β3 group. Protein levels of <em>type II collagen (Coll2) </em>significantly increased in TGF-β3 and ASU groups in comparison with those of the control group. However, protein levels of <em>Type X collagen (Coll10) </em>significantly declined in the ASU group when compared with the TGF-β3 group.<br /> <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results of the present study indicated that hADSCs containing the ASU in PLGA/fibrin hybrid scaffold are an effective way to potentially enhance Cartilage-specific genes with less hypertrophy and Fibrosis <em>in-vitro</em>.