title: Cartilaginous constructs using primary chondrocytes from continuous expansion culture seeded in dense collagen gels.
abstract: Cell-based therapies such as autologous chondrocyte implantation require in vitro cell expansion. However, standard culture techniques require cell passaging, leading to dedifferentiation into a fibroblast-like cell type. Primary chondrocytes grown on continuously expanding culture dishes (CE culture) limits passaging and protects against dedifferentiation. The authors tested whether CE culture chondrocytes were advantageous for producing mechanically competent cartilage matrix when three-dimensionally seeded in dense collagen gels. Primary chondrocytes, grown either in CE culture or passaged twice on static silicone dishes (SS culture; comparable to standard methods), were seeded in dense collagen gels and cultured for 3 weeks in the absence of exogenous chondrogenic growth factors. Compared with gels seeded with SS culture chondrocytes, CE chondrocyte-seeded gels had significantly higher chondrogenic gene expression after 2 and 3 weeks in culture, correlating with significantly higher aggrecan and type II collagen protein accumulation. There was no obvious difference in glycosaminoglycan content from either culture condition, yet CE chondrocyte-seeded gels were significantly thicker and had a significantly higher dynamic compressive modulus than SS chondrocyte-seeded gels after 3 weeks. Chondrocytes grown in CE culture and seeded in dense collagen gels produce more cartilaginous matrix with superior mechanical properties, making them more suitable than SS cultured cells for tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University St., Montreal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chicatun
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nazhat
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024043:Collagen Type II; D005782:Gels; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D004247:DNA
keywords: Articular chondrocytes; Dense collagen; Hydrogel; Plastic compression; Tissue engineering