title: Hyaluronan stimulates chondrogenic gene expression in human meniscus cells.
abstract: Purpose/Aim of the Study: Inner meniscus cells have a chondrocytic phenotype, whereas outer meniscus cells have a fibroblastic phenotype. In this study, we examined the effect of hyaluronan on chondrocytic gene expression in human meniscus cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human meniscus cells were prepared from macroscopically intact lateral meniscus. Inner and outer meniscus cells were obtained from the inner and outer halves of the meniscus. The cells were stimulated with hyaluronan diluted in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium without serum to the desired concentration (0, 10, 100, and 1000 μg/mL) for 2-7 days. Cellular proliferation, migration, and polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed for the inner and outer cells separately. Meniscal samples perforated by a 2 mm diameter punch were maintained for 3 weeks in hyaluronan-supplemented medium and evaluated by histological analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyaluronan increased the proliferation and migration of both meniscus cell types. Moreover, cellular counts at the surface of both meniscal tissue perforations were increased by hyaluronan treatments. In addition, hyaluronan stimulated α1(II) collagen expression in inner meniscus cells. Accumulation of type II collagen at the perforated surface of both meniscal samples was induced by hyaluronan treatment. Hyaluronan did not induce type I collagen accumulation around the injured site of the meniscus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyaluronan stimulated the proliferation and migration of meniscus cells. Our results suggest that hyaluronan may promote the healing potential of meniscus cells in damaged meniscal tissues.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furumatsu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Okayama University Graduate School , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D000072600:Meniscus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Chondrocytic gene expression; hyaluronan; inner meniscus; meniscus; outer meniscus; type II collagen