title: The Chondrogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Cells and Chondrocytes from Osteoarthritic Subjects: A Comparative Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The multipotential nature of stem or progenitor cells apparently makes them the ideal choice for any cell therapy, but this as yet remains to be proven. This study (30 subjects) was designed to compare the potential to repair articular cartilage of chondrocytes taken from different regions in osteoarthritic cartilage with that of mesenchymal stem cells prepared from bone marrow of the same subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cartilage biopsies, bone marrow, and blood samples were taken from each of 30 individuals with chronic osteoarthritis (aged 62-85 years) undergoing total knee replacement. The chondrogenic potential of chondrocytes isolated from cartilage biopsies taken from different regions of osteoarthritic cartilage was compared with that of mesenchymal cells by quantitative analysis of several chondrocyte specific markers and an ex vivo cartilage differentiation assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cartilage-derived articular chondrocytes are superior to bone marrow-derived cells when compared for their ex vivo chondrogenic potential. Interestingly, there was marked and significant difference in the expression of chondrocytic markers between chondrocytes derived from adjacent, visually distinct regions of the diseased cartilage. When cultured in the presence of a fibroblast growth factor 2 variant, all cell samples from both tissues showed a high degree of chondrogenic potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, when supplemented with the appropriate chondrogenic factors, are a suitable source for autologous cartilage implantation, adult chondroprogenitor cells, particularly those from moderately affected regions of the osteoarthritic joints, demonstrate superior chondrogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Asaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Zrifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agar
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blumenstein
authors.affiliation: Asaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Zrifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bar-Ziv
authors.affiliation: Asaf HaRofeh Medical Center, Zrifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kardosh
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schrift-Tzadok
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gal-Levy
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fischler
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Revital
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldschmid
authors.affiliation: ProChon Biotech Ltd., Ness Ziona, Israel.
authors.forename: Avner
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yayon
keywords: MSCs; autologous chondrocyte implantation; cartilage regeneration; osteoarthritis