title: Simulated microgravity using a rotary cell culture system promotes chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the p38 MAPK pathway.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multi-potent, and the chondrogenesis of MSCs is affected by mechanical stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate, using a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) bioreactor, the effects of microgravity on the chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs), which were cultured in pellets with or without the chondrogenic growth factor TGF-β1. In addition, we evaluated the role of the p38 MAPK pathway in this process. The real-time PCR and histological results show that microgravity has a synergistic effect on chondrogenesis with TGF-β1. The p38 MAPK pathway was activated by TGF-β1 alone and was further stimulated by microgravity. Inhibition of p38 activity with SB203580 suppressed chondrocyte-specific gene expression and matrix production. These findings suggest that the p38 MAPK signal acts as an essential mediator in the microgravity-induced chondrogenesis of ADSCs.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Degang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Guangwang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhenan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D012399:Rotation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation / Q000379:methods*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D011509:Proteoglycans; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases