title: Impact of 3D-culture on the expression of differentiation markers and hormone receptors in growth plate chondrocytes as compared to articular chondrocytes.
abstract: In this study we compared the expression of hormone receptors and markers of differentiation in growth plate chondrocytes (GPC) and articular chondrocytes (AC) under different culture conditions by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. After one week of monolayer culture, porcine GPC and AC of 6-8-week-old piglets were either seeded in alginate beads or further grown in monolayer culture up to 5 weeks. During monolayer culture the expression of Col2, Col1, Col10, aggrecan, ERalpha and ERbeta decreased dramatically, whereas culture in alginate beads restored an expression pattern similar to native tissue. The receptors IGF-1R, IGF-2R and GHR were, however, increased in monolayer culture compared to alginate culture or native tissue. The relative proportion of ERalpha and ERbeta expression was different in GPC when compared to AC. All of our results on mRNA expression during culture in alginate beads were also verified to be translated to the protein level. Thus, the expression of hormone rereptors and differentiation markers were found to be highly influenced by culture conditions. Moreover, the porcine model is promising as defined by tissue availability, expression of relevant hormonal receptors and comparability to human conditions, in particular in the area of basic growth research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helmreich
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tichy
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marlovits
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plasenzotti
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egerbacher
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haeusler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface