title: Electrospun scaffold containing TGF-β1 promotes human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype under hypoxia.
abstract: The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of electrospun scaffold containing TGF-β1 on promoting human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation towards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype under hypoxia. Two kinds of nanofibrous scaffolds containing TGF-β1 were fabricated using uniaxial electrospinning (Group I) and coaxial electrospinning (Group II). Human MSCs were seeded on both kinds of scaffolds and cultured in a hypoxia chamber (2% O2), and then the scaffolds were characterised. Cell proliferation and differentiation were also evaluated after 3 weeks of cell culture. Results showed that both kinds of scaffolds shared similar diameter distributions and protein release. However, Group I scaffolds were more hydrophilic than that of Group II. Both kinds of scaffolds induced the MSCs to differentiate towards the nucleus pulposus-type phenotype in vitro. In addition, the expression of nucleus pulposus-associated genes (aggrecan, type II collagen, HIF-1α and Sox-9) in Group I increased more than that of Group II. These results indicate that electrospinning nanofibrous scaffolds containing TGF-β1 supports the differentiation of MSCs towards the pulposus-like phenotype in a hypoxia chamber, which would be a more appropriate choice for nucleus pulposus regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, People's Republic of China. XiangCuihi2012@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiaxu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010641:Phenotype; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1