Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Migratory chondroprogenitors retain superior intrinsic chondrogenic potential for regenerative cartilage repair as compared to human fibronectin derived chondroprogenitors.

Publication Type

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Date of Publication

December 8, 2021

Journal

Scientific reports

Volume/Issue

11/1

ISSN

2045-2322

Cell-based therapy for articular hyaline cartilage regeneration predominantly involves the use of mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes. However, the regenerated repair tissue is suboptimal due to the formation of mixed hyaline and fibrocartilage, resulting in inferior long-term functional outcomes. Current preclinical research points towards the potential use of cartilage-derived chondroprogenitors as a viable option for cartilage healing. Fibronectin adhesion assay-derived chondroprogenitors (FAA-CP) and migratory chondroprogenitors (MCP) exhibit features suitable for neocartilage formation but are isolated using distinct protocols. In order to assess superiority between the two cell groups, this study was the first attempt to compare human FAA-CPs with MCPs in normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions, investigating their growth characteristics, surface marker profile and trilineage potency. Their chondrogenic potential was assessed using mRNA expression for markers of chondrogenesis and hypertrophy, glycosaminoglycan content (GAG), and histological staining. MCPs displayed lower levels of hypertrophy markers (RUNX2 and COL1A1), with normoxia-MCP exhibiting significantly higher levels of chondrogenic markers (Aggrecan and COL2A1/COL1A1 ratio), thus showing superior potential towards cartilage repair. Upon chondrogenic induction, normoxia-MCPs also showed significantly higher levels of GAG/DNA with stronger staining. Focused research using MCPs is required as they can be suitable contenders for the generation of hyaline-like repair tissue.

Alternate Journal

Sci Rep

PubMed ID

34880351

PubMed Central ID

PMC8654938

Authors

Elizabeth Vinod
Noel Naveen Johnson
Sanjay Kumar
Soosai Manickam Amirtham
Jithu Varghese James
Abel Livingston
Grace Rebekah
Alfred Job Daniel
Boopalan Ramasamy
Solomon Sathishkumar

Keywords

Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Adipogenesis
Chondrocytes
Bone Regeneration
Cartilage, Articular
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Chondrogenesis
Cells, Cultured
Fibronectins
Cell Movement
Cell Differentiation
Biomarkers
Middle Aged
Humans
Cell Cycle