title: Ovine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Morphologic, Phenotypic and Functional Characterization for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of ovine mesenchymal stromal cells (oMSCs) is currently expanding. Tissue engineering combining scaffolding with oMSCs provides promising therapies for the treatment of osteochondral diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to isolate and characterize oMSCs from bone marrow aspirates (oBMSCs) and to assess their usefulness for osteochondral repair using β-tricalcium phosphate (bTCP) and type I collagen (Col I) scaffolds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells isolated from ovine bone marrow were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. oBMSCs were cultured with osteogenic medium on bTCP and Col I scaffolds. The resulting constructs were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy studies. Furthermore, oBMSCs were cultured on Col I scaffolds to develop an in vitro cartilage repair model that was assessed using a modified International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS) II scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  oBMSCs presented morphology, surface marker pattern and multipotent capacities similar to those of human BMSCs. oBMSCs seeded on Col I gave rise to osteogenic neotissue. Assessment by the modified ICRS II scale revealed that fibrocartilage/hyaline cartilage was obtained in the in vitro repair model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The isolated ovine cells were demonstrated to be oBMSCs. oBMSCs cultured on Col I sponges successfully synthesized osteochondral tissue. The data suggest that oBMSCs have potential for use in preclinical models prior to human clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanjurjo-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.|Tissue Bioengineering and Cell Therapy Unit (GBTTC-CHUAC), Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castro-Viñuelas
authors.affiliation: Tissue Bioengineering and Cell Therapy Unit (GBTTC-CHUAC), Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hermida-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Tissue Bioengineering and Cell Therapy Unit (GBTTC-CHUAC), Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernández-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Isaac Manuel
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Boquete
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Toro-Santos
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia María
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9776-2180
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Díaz-Prado
authors.affiliation: Tissue Bioengineering and Cell Therapy Unit (GBTTC-CHUAC), Rheumatology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña (INIBIC), University Hospital Complex A Coruña (CHUAC), Galician Health Service (SERGAS), A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Blanco-García
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012756:Sheep; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D003094:Collagen