Chondrocytes from different zones exhibit characteristic differences in high density culture.
Superficial and middle/deep zone chondrocytes were isolated from goat femoral cartilage by a zonal abrasion method. The cells were expanded 100-fold through two passages, then seeded into agarose wells to form high-density constructs through a self-assembling process. After 4 weeks in culture, the superficial zone constructs contracted into a dense cell mass, while middle/deep zone chondrocytes formed constructs with four distinct regions. Middle/deep zone chondrocytes produced 250% more glycosaminoglycans per dry weight and more collagen per dry weight than superficial zone chondrocytes. The superficial and middle/deep zone chondrocytes were found to retain characteristic differences even after 100-fold expansion, as evidenced by construct morphology and extracellular matrix content. This study uniquely demonstrated the ability of expanded superficial and middle/deep zone chondrocytes to form constructs of distinct characteristics without a scaffold. The goal of tissue engineering different zones of cartilage is to eventually replicate the specific function of each zone.
Hu
Jerry C
JC
Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Athanasiou
Kyriacos A
KA
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006041:Goats; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010619:Phenazines; D013264:Stifle; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D010619:Phenazines; C009195:safranine T