title: Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes: a novel cell source for elastic cartilage regeneration.
abstract: Reconstruction of elastic cartilage requires a source of chondrocytes that display a reliable differentiation tendency. Predetermined tissue progenitor cells are ideal candidates for meeting this need; however, it is difficult to obtain donor elastic cartilage tissue because most elastic cartilage serves important functions or forms external structures, making these tissues indispensable. We found vestigial cartilage tissue in xiphoid processes and characterized it as hyaline cartilage in the proximal region and elastic cartilage in the distal region. Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes (XCs) showed superb in vitro expansion ability based on colony-forming unit fibroblast assays, cell yield, and cumulative cell growth. On induction of differentiation into mesenchymal lineages, XCs showed a strong tendency toward chondrogenic differentiation. An examination of the tissue-specific regeneration capacity of XCs in a subcutaneous-transplantation model and autologous chondrocyte implantation model confirmed reliable regeneration of elastic cartilage regardless of the implantation environment. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that xiphoid process cartilage, the only elastic cartilage tissue source that can be obtained without destroying external shape or function, is a source of elastic chondrocytes that show superb in vitro expansion and reliable differentiation capacity. These findings indicate that XCs could be a valuable cell source for reconstruction of elastic cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seungwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wheemoon
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jungsun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea ysson@khu.ac.kr eunahlee@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: EunAh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; R&D Institute, Modern Cell and Tissue Technologies Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea ysson@khu.ac.kr eunahlee@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Youngsook
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D051457:Hyaline Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration; D014989:Xiphoid Bone / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Chondrocyte; Elastic cartilage; Progenitor cell; Regeneration; Tissue engineering