title: The use of growth factors in the proliferation of avian articular chondrocytes in a serum-free culture system.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to develop a serum-free culture system for the proliferation of articular chondrocytes. Various growth factors and hormones were tested for their ability to stimulate avian articular chondrocyte proliferation in a defined, serum-free media. Multiple members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family (FGFs: 2, 4, and 9), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) significantly stimulated H-thymidine uptake by chondrocytes grown in an adherent serum-free, culture system. Double or triple combinations of these mitogenic growth factors further stimulated cell proliferation to levels that were equivalent to, or surpassed those of cells grown in serum. Although proliferation was maximally stimulated, chondrocytes grown in the presence of FGF-2, IGF-1, and TGF-beta, began to exhibit changes in morphology and collagen II expression declined. This culture system could be used to rapidly expand a population of articular chondrocytes prior to transferring these cells to a non-adherent culture system, which could then stabilize the chondrocyte phenotype and maximize matrix synthesis and integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, The Pennsylvania State University University Park 16802, USA.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Rousche
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Praul
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Leach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013936:Thymidine; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006133:Growth Substances; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014316:Tritium; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013936:Thymidine