Comparison between Chondrogenic Markers of Differentiated Chondrocytes from Adipose Derived Stem Cells and Articular Chondrocytes In Vitro

Abstract

<br/><br/><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Objective(s): </span></em><br/><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;">Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases in middle-aged population in the world. Cartilage tissue engineering (TE) has been presented as an effort to introduce the best combination of cells, biomaterial scaffolds and stimulating growth factors to produce a cartilage tissue similar to the natural articular cartilage. In this study, the chondrogenic potential of adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) was compared with natural articular chondrocytes cultured in alginate scaffold. </span><br/> <br/>Materials and Methods: <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;">Human ADSCs were obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue and human articular chondrocytes from non-weight bearing areas of knee joints. Cells were seeded in 1.5% alginate and cultured in chondrogenic media for three weeks with and without TGFβ3. The genes expression of types II and X collagens was assessed by Real Time PCR and the amount of aggrecan (AGC) and type I collagen measured by ELISA and the content of glycosaminoglycan evaluated by GAG assay. </span></span><br/>Results: <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;">Our findings showed that type II collagen, GAG and AGC were expressed, in differentiated ADSCs. Meanwhile, they produced a lesser amount of types II and X collagens but more AGC, GAG and type I collagen in comparison with natural chondrocytes (NCs). </span></span><br/>Conclusion: <br/><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria Math,Cambria Math; font-size: xx-small;">Further attempt should be carried out to optimize achieving type II collagen in DCs, as much as, natural articular chondrocytes and decline of the production of type I collagen in order to provide efficient hyaline cartilage after chondrogenic induction, prior to the usage of harvested tissues in clinical trials. </span></span>