title: Chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells: a comparison between micromass and pellet culture systems.
abstract: High-density cell culture is pivotal for the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Two high-density cell culture systems, micromass and pellet culture, have been used to induce chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs. In micromass culture, the induced-cartilage tissues were larger, more homogenous and enriched in cartilage-specific collagen II but the fibrocartilage-like feature, collagen I, and hypertrophic chondrocyte feature, collagen X, were markedly decreased compared to those in pellet culture. Furthermore, real time RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that collagen II and aggrecan mRNA were up-regulated while collagen X and collagen I mRNA were down-regulated in micromass culture. Thus, the micromass culture system is a promising tool for in vitro chondrogenic studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, #107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Liangming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peiqiang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Junlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D024121:Collagen Type X; D012333:RNA, Messenger