Pentosan polysulfate promotes proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of adult human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal precursor cells.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to determine whether the anti-osteoarthritis drug pentosan polysulfate (PPS) influenced mesenchymal precursor cell (MPC) proliferation and differentiation.


METHODS
Human MPCs were maintained in monolayer, pellet or micromass cultures (MMC) for up to 10 days with PPS at concentrations of 0 to 20 microg/ml. MPC viability and proliferation was assessed using the WST-1 assay and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA, while apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. Proteoglycan (PG) biosynthesis was determined by 35SO42- incorporation and staining with Alcian blue. Proteoglycan and collagen type I and collagen type II deposition in pellet cultures was also examined by Toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. The production of hyaluronan (HA) by MPCs in MMC was assessed by ELISA. The relative outcome of PPS, HA, heparin or dextran sulfate (DS) on PG synthesis was compared in 5-day MMC. Gene expression of MPCs in 7-day and 10-day MMC was examined using real-time PCR. MPC differentiation was investigated by co-culturing with PPS in osteogenic or adipogenic inductive culture media for 28 days.


RESULTS
Significant MPC proliferation was evident by day 3 at PPS concentrations of 1 to 5 microg/ml (P < 0.01). In the presence of 1 to 10 microg/ml PPS, a 38% reduction in IL-4/IFNgamma-induced MPC apoptosis was observed. In 5-day MMC, 130% stimulation of PG synthesis occurred at 2.5 microg/ml PPS (P < 0.0001), while 5.0 microg/ml PPS achieved maximal stimulation in the 7-day and 10-day cultures (P < 0.05). HA and DS at > or = 5 microg/ml inhibited PG synthesis (P < 0.05) in 5-day MMC. Collagen type II deposition by MMC was significant at > or = 0.5 microg/ml PPS (P < 0.001 to 0.05). In MPC-PPS pellet cultures, more PG, collagen type II but less collagen type I was deposited than in controls. Real-time PCR results were consistent with the protein data. At 5 and 10 microg/ml PPS, MPC osteogenic differentiation was suppressed (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to demonstrate that PPS promotes MPC proliferation and chondrogenesis, offering new strategies for cartilage regeneration and repair in osteoarthritic joints.
Ghosh
Peter
P
Proteobioactives Pty Ltd, 27/9 Powells Road, Brookvale, New South Wales 2100, Australia. peterghosh@proteobioactives.com.au
Wu
Jiehua
J
Shimmon
Susan
S
Zannettino
Andrew Cw
AC
Gronthos
Stan
S
Itescu
Silviu
S
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011509:Proteoglycans; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen