title: Growth factors for clinical-scale expansion of human articular chondrocytes: relevance for automated bioreactor systems.
abstract: The expansion of chondrocytes in automated bioreactors for clinical use requires that a relevant number of cells be generated, starting from variable initial seeding densities in one passage and using autologous serum. We investigated whether the growth factor combination transforming growth factor beta 1/fibroblast growth factor 2/platelet-derived growth factor BB (TFP), recently shown to enhance the proliferation capacity of human articular chondrocytes (HACs), allows the efficiency of chondrocyte use to be increased at different seeding densities and percentages of human serum (HS). HACs were seeded at 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 cells/cm2 in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum or 10,000 cells/cm2 with 1%, 5%, or 10%HS. The chondrogenic capacity of post-expanded HACs was then assessed in pellet cultures. Expansion with TFP allowed a sufficient number of HACs to be obtained in one passage even at the lowest seeding density and HS percentage and variability in cartilage-forming capacity of HACs expanded under the different conditions to be reduced. Instead, larger variations and insufficient yields were found in the absence of TFP. By allowing large numbers of cells to be obtained, starting from a wide range of initial seeding densities and HS percentages, the use of TFP may represent a viable solution for the efficient expansion of HACs and addresses constraints of automated clinical bioreactor systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Surgical Research and Hospital Management, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silvia-Elena
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Francioli
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Christina-Priska
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Sie
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hagg
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candrian
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heberer
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019149:Bioreactors; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins