Chondrogenic derivatives of embryonic stem cells seeded into 3D polycaprolactone scaffolds generated cartilage tissue in vivo.
In spite of recent scientific advances, treatment and repair of cartilage using tissue engineering techniques remains challenging. The major constraint is the limited proliferative capacity of mature autologous chondrocytes used in the tissue engineering approach. This problem can be addressed by using stem cells, which can self-renew with greater proliferative potential. Cartilage tissue engineering using adult mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrows has met with limited success. In this study we explored cartilage tissue generation from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). ESCs were induced to differentiate into chondroprogenitors, capable of proliferating and subsequently differentiating into cartilage-producing cells. The chondrogenic cells expressed chondrocyte-specific markers and deposited extracellular matrix proteins, proteoglycans. ESC-derived chondrogenic cells and polycaprolactone scaffolds seeded with these cells implanted in mice (129 SvImJ) generated cartilage tissue in vivo. Postimplant analysis of the retrieved tissues demonstrated cartilage-like tissue formation in 3-4 weeks. The cells of retrieved tissues also expressed the chondrocyte-specific marker collagen II. These findings suggest that ESCs can be used for tissue engineering and cultivation of cartilage tissues.
Fecek
Christopher
C
Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
Yao
Donggang
D
Kaçorri
Ardit
A
Vasquez
Adrian
A
Iqbal
Samina
S
Sheikh
Hormoz
H
Svinarich
David M
DM
Perez-Cruet
Miguelangelo
M
Chaudhry
G Rasul
GR
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D016616:Cryoultramicrotomy; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D024043:Collagen Type II; D037502:Galectin 3; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone