The Effect of 3-Dimensional Microcarrier Culture on Chondrocyte Proliferation and Matrix Production

Song, Eun Kyoo; Yoon, Taek Rim; Kim, Myoung Jong; Shim, Sang Don

Abstract

PURPOSE
Injury to articular cartilage is likely progressive to develop arthritis and dysfunction of joint because its regeneration is limited. Transplantation of cultured autologous chondrocytes was proved to be a satisfactory treatment method and could prevent a dysfunction of joint. However chondrocytes propagated in monolayer culture lose their original characteristics by assuming a morphologic shift to fibroblast like cell and biosynthetic shift to production of collagen type I from type II and to decrease in synthesis of DNA and proteoglycans. A three dimensional culture of articular chondrocytes using microcarrier was performed to overcome disadvantages of phenotypic changes in monolayer culture. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cultured articular chondrocytes, 6 times passed in 13 weeks, were innoculated and propagated in flasks for monolayer culture and spinner flasks for three dimensional culture respectively for 2 weeks.
RESULTS
Cells in three dimensional culture proliferated faster and showed more markedly increase in cell number than those in monolayer culture. Expression of type II collagen was observed in three dimensional culture, but was hardly observed in monolayer culture.
CONCLUSION
Degree of synthesis of DNA and proteoglycans also more markedly increase in three dimensional culture than in monolayer culture. Our experiments demonstrate that three dimensional culture of articular chondrocyte using microcarrier provides increase in growth and reexpression of phenotype of chondrocytes.