title: Mesenchymal stem cell response to growth factor treatment and low oxygen tension in 3-dimensional construct environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  cell-based tissue engineering strategies using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) may help to augment tendon healing. To further investigate the in-vitro behavior of this cell population, we investigated low oxygen culture levels, and growth factor supplementation and their effect on expression of tendon extracellular proteins and cell proliferation.
  
  
  METHODS
  bone marrow aspirate (BMA) was harvested during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Characterized hMSCs derived from BMA were incorporated into 3-dimensional tissue engineered constructs (TECs). TECs were analyzed by frozen sections with immunohistochemistry for cell density, collagen I and collagen III expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  growth factor stimulation and low oxygen increased cell density within TECs. Low oxygen and addition of growth factors to culture media demonstrated an increase in collagen I and III expression, both in ambient oxygen conditions and low oxygen conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  low oxygen and TGFβ3 demonstrated a positive effect on cell number, and type I and III collagen expression in 3D culture environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas John Sakrison
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Durant
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dyment
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth R
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cote
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arciero
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: Augustus D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mazzocca
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rowe
keywords: construct; low oxygen; mesenchymal stem cells; tendon; transforming growth factor beta