[Chondrogenic differentiation of adult human periodontal ligament stem cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To isolate and cultivate human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) and to investigate the feasibility of PDLSC in vitro differentiation into chondrogenic phenotype.


METHODS
Periodontal tissue was obtained from healthy young human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. PDLSCs were isolated by single-colony selection and cultivated. PDLSC of passage 3 was plated at density of 1 x 10(7) cells/cm3 and induced with chondrogenic induction medium of DMEM containing TGF-beta1 (10 microg/L), IGF-1 (50 microg/L), dexamethasone (40 microg/L) and 10% FBS. In control group, the constructs were maintained in DMEM medium + 10% FBS. After 21 days induction, the results were evaluated by histology, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The constructs in experimental group were smooth and relatively firm in texture after 3 weeks of culture. Toluidine blue staining showed the formation of distinct lacuna structure. Positive staining of type II collagen was also detected by immunohistochemistry and it was confirmed by RT-PCR. In contrast, in the control group, the constructs collapsed gradually, lacuna was barely detected in histology and type II collagen expression negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontal ligament contain stem cells can be isolated and cultivated. PDLSC have the potential of chondrogenic differentiation.
Zhang
Yu-feng
YF
Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Cheng
Xiang-rong
XR
Shi
Bin
B
Xu
Dong-xuan
DX
D000293:Adolescent; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*