title: Enhanced differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into NP-like cells via 3D co-culturing with mechanical stimulation.
abstract: This study proposes a three-dimensional co-culturing system of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells from New Zealand white male rabbits to differentiate MSCs into NP-like cells. The preferable ratio of MSCs to NP cells and the effects of mechanical stimulation were investigated without biochemical reagents. The preferable ratio was investigated without mechanical stimulation using five groups: Group I (MSC control); Group II (NP cell control); and Groups III, IV, and V, for which the ratios of NP cells to MSCs were 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1, respectively. During culture for 10 days without stimulation, the proliferation of MSCs did not increase after day 4. NP cells proliferated more when co-cultured as in Group V. However, the degree of differentiation of MSCs increased significantly in Group V. The differentiation of NP cells decreased gradually over time. When mechanical stimulation was applied to Groups I, II, and V, it contributed to the differentiation of MSCs into NP-like cells, as well as to that of NP cells, but did not contribute to the proliferation of either cell type. The contribution of mechanical stimulation to differentiation was also confirmed by RT-PCR.
authors: National Research Laboratory of Cellular and Biomechanical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, Gyeongnam 621-749, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dong Hwa
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Su-Hyang
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Su-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Heo
authors: Ji Won
authors: JW
authors: Shin
authors: Shi Woo
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: Su A
authors: SA
authors: Park
authors: Jung-Woog
authors: JW
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers