title: Conditioned medium as a strategy for human stem cells chondrogenic differentiation.
abstract: Paracrine signalling from chondrocytes has been reported to increase the synthesis and expression of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) by stem cells. The use of conditioned medium obtained from chondrocytes for stimulating stem cells chondrogenic differentiation may be a very interesting alternative for moving into the clinical application of these cells, as chondrocytes could be partially replaced by stem cells for this type of application. In the present study we aimed to achieve chondrogenic differentiation of two different sources of stem cells using conditioned medium, without adding growth factors. We tested both human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBSMCs) and human Wharton's jelly-derived stem cells (hWJSCs). Conditioned medium obtained from a culture of human articular chondrocytes was used to feed the cells during the experiment. Cultures were performed in previously produced three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, composed of a blend of 50:50 chitosan:poly(butylene succinate). Both types of stem cells were able to undergo chondrogenic differentiation without the addition of growth factors. Cultures using hWJSCs showed significantly higher GAGs accumulation and expression of cartilage-related genes (aggrecan, Sox9 and collagen type II) when compared to hBMSCs cultures. Conditioned medium obtained from articular chondrocytes induced the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs and ECM formation. Obtained results showed that this new strategy is very interesting and should be further explored for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alves da Silva
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Costa-Pinto
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Correlo
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sol
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: CMAT, Mathematical Research Centre, Department of Mathematics and Applications, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Neves
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D004247:DNA
keywords: cartilage; chondrogenic differentiation; conditioned medium; stem cells