title: Expression of the human chondrocyte phenotype in vitro.
abstract: We report a culture scheme in which human epiphyseal chondrocytes lose their differentiated phenotype in monolayer and subsequently reexpress the phenotype in an agarose gel. The scheme is based on a method using rabbit chondrocytes. Culture in monolayer allowed small quantities of cells to be amplified and provided a starting point to study expression of the differentiated human chondrocyte phenotype. The cells cultured in monolayer produced type I procollagen, fibronectin, and small noncartilaginous proteoglycans. Subsequent culture in agarose was associated with the acquisition of typical chondrocyte ultrastructural features and the synthesis of type II collagen and cartilage-specific proteoglycans. The switch from the nonchondrocyte to the differentiated chondrocyte phenotype occurred under these conditions between 1 and 2 wk of agarose culture and was not necessarily homogeneous throughout a culture. This culture technique will facilitate direct investigation of human disorders of cartilage that have been addressed in the past by alternative approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77225.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aulthouse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griffey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arden
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Horton
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010641:Phenotype; D011347:Procollagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012685:Sepharose
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D011347:Procollagen; D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D012685:Sepharose