title: Effects of three-dimensional culture and growth factors on the chondrogenic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into cells from all three germ layers, holding great promise for tissue regeneration applications. However, controlling the differentiation of ES cells and obtaining homogenous cell populations still remains a challenge. We hypothesize that a supportive three-dimensional (3D) environment provides ES cell-derived cells an environment that more closely mimics chondrogenesis in vivo. In the present study, the chondrogenic differentiation capability of ES cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-based (PEG) hydrogels was examined and compared with the chondrogenic potential of EBs in conventional monolayer culture. PEG hydrogel-encapsulated EBs and EBs in monolayer were cultured in vitro for up to 17 days in chondrogenic differentiation medium in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 or bone morphogenic protein-2. Gene expression and protein analyses indicated that EB-PEG hydrogel culture upregulated cartilage-relevant markers compared with a monolayer environment and induction of chondrocytic phenotype was stimulated with TGF-beta1. Histology of EBs in PEG hydrogel culture with TGF-beta1 demonstrated basophilic extracellular matrix deposition characteristic of neocartilage. These findings suggest that EB-PEG hydrogel culture, with an appropriate growth factor, may provide a suitable environment for chondrogenic differentiation of intact ES cell-derived EBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Clark Hall 106, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Myoung Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Somponnat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sampattavanich
authors.forename: Jin Hyen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Zijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elisseeff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019902:Chondrocytes; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols