J Korean Orthop Res Soc.  2005 Apr;8(1):76-85.

Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in PGA Polymeric Scaffolds

• kim YY
• Kwon SY
• Kim WY
• Lee DY
• Kim SH
• Han CW
• Khang GS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To characterize the chondrogenic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in porous polymeric scaffolds by poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) as three-dimensional constructs to facilitate chondrogenic differentiation.
METHODS
Human MSCs were isolated by percoll gradient method and adherent cell cultures were obtained. Isolated MSCs were characterized with CD 34 and Sca-1 antibodies using flow cytometry. MSCs were seeded in the PGA polymeric scaffolds for 28 days in a specialized defined medium. The control group was examined without the specialized defined medium. The chondrogenesis of MSCs-seeded polymer scaffolds culture was assessed by histology, RT-PCR and 35S-sulfate incorporation.
RESULTS
Flow cytometry result showed that CD 34 was negative and Sca-1 was 93+/-10% positive. By the histological analysis from Safranin-O staining, it was confirmed that the chondrogenic differentiated human MSCs expressed chondrocyte-like morphologies. We also observed that type II collagen was expressed by RT-PCR. The degree of proteoglycan synthesis was higher in the experimental group than the control group.
CONCLUSION
We have demonstrated that the biodegradable porous polymeric scaffolds and the specialized defined medium is able to provide three-dimensional constructs for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs.

Keyword

Mesenchymal stem cell; Chondrogenesis; Porous polymeric scaffold

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Cell Culture Techniques
Chondrogenesis
Collagen Type II
Flow Cytometry
Humans*
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Polymers*
Proteoglycans
Antibodies
Collagen Type II
Polymers
Proteoglycans