title: The direction of human mesenchymal stem cells into the chondrogenic lineage is influenced by the features of hydrogel carriers.
abstract: Low back pain is a major public health issue in the Western world, one main cause is believed to be intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. To halt/diminish IVD degeneration, cell therapy using different biomaterials e.g. hydrogels as cell carriers has been suggested. In this study, two different hydrogels were examined (in vitro) as potential cell carriers for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) intended for IVD transplantation. The aim was to investigate cell-survival and chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs when cultured in hydrogels Puramatrix®or Hydromatrix®and potential effects of stimulation with growth hormone (GH). hMSCs/hydrogel cultures were investigated for cell-viability, attachment, gene expression of chondrogenic markers SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In both hydrogel types, hMSCs were viable for 28days, expressed integrin β1 which indicates adhesion of hMSCs. Differentiation was observed into chondrocyte-like cells, in a higher extent in hMSCs/Hydromatrix®cultures when compared to hMSCs/Puramatrix®hydrogel cultures. Gene expression analyses of chondrogenic markers verified results. hMSCs/hydrogel cultures stimulated with GH displayed no significant effects on chondrogenesis. In conclusion, both hydrogels, especially Hydromatrix®was demonstrated as a promising cell carrier in vitro for hMSCs, when directed into chondrogenesis. This knowledge could be useful in biological approaches for regeneration of degenerated human IVDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: helena.barreto.henriksson@gu.se.
authors.forename: H Barreto
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Electron Microscopy Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brisby
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000628:therapy; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: Cell carrier; Chondrogenesis; Disc degeneration; Human mesenchymal stem cells; Hydrogels; Intervertebral disc