title: Chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells embedded in a scaffold by long-term release of TGF-beta 3 complexed with chondroitin sulfate.
abstract: In this study, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) embedded in biodegradable and water-swollen, elastic block copolymer scaffolds were assessed for MSC chondrogenesis. To determine the optimal conditions for chondrogenesis of the embedded rMSCs, transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-beta 3) was physically conjugated with chondroitin sulfate (CS) and mixed into scaffolds, which were subsequently evaluated for the differentiation of transplanted rMSCs. In determination of CS-bound growth factors for chondrogenesis, scaffold mixed with rMSCs and TGF-beta 3 was then tested by growth factor release profiles, confocal laser microscopy, RT-PCR analysis, real time-QPCR, and histology. The results of several different analyses of the transplanted rMSCs embedded in the scaffolds showed that rMSCs coupled with a CS-bound TGF-beta 3 encapsulated scaffold evidenced superior cartilage tissue formation as measured by an assay of specific gene and protein expression. Moreover, the scaffold exhibited more rapid and more distinct morphology of differentiated rMSCs than was observed with other scaffolds, as determined by histology and immunochemical histology analysis. These results indicate that the elastic block copolymer scaffolds combined with a CS-bound TGF-beta 3 should prove very suitable matrix for cell-based cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: CHA Stem Cell Institute, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, 606-16 Yeoksam 1-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-081, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dae Gyun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Han Na
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Keun-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020100:Hydrogels; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007783:Lactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D020100:Hydrogels; D007783:Lactones; C400421:PLC(20)-b-PEO(44); D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D005027:Ethylene Oxide