title: Mesenchymal stem cells in perichondrium express activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule and participate in bone marrow formation.
abstract: Perichondrium in fetal limb is composed of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. However, the multipotency of cells in this region and the role of perichondrium in bone marrow formation are not well understood. In this report, we purified and characterized perichondrial cells using a monoclonal antibody against activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) and investigated the role of perichondrial cells in hematopoietic bone marrow formation. ALCAM is expressed on hematopoietic cells, endothelial cells, bone marrow stromal cells, and mesenchymal stem cells and mediates homophilic (ALCAM-ALCAM)/heterophilic (ALCAM-CD6) cell adhesion. Here we show by immunohistochemical staining that ALCAM is expressed in perichondrium. ALCAM+ perichondrial cells isolated by FACS exhibit the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. ALCAM+ cells can differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and stromal cells, which can support osteoclastogenesis, hematopoiesis, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the addition of ALCAM-Fc or CD6-Fc to the metatarsal culture, the invasion of the blood vessels to a cartilage was inhibited. Our findings indicate that ALCAM+ perichondrial cells participate in vascular invasion by recruiting osteoclasts and vessels. These findings suggest that perichondrium might serve as a stem cell reservoir and play an important role in the early development of a bone and bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ohneda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Xiu Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000254:growth & development*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D017931:DNA Primers; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011247:Pregnancy; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D017931:DNA Primers