ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Transformation growth factor beta 1 is mostly used to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s, but there is a poor induction efficacy. OBJECTIVE:To explore the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s co-cultured with articular chondrocytes or induced by transforming growth factor beta 1. METHODS:Articular chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s from SD rats were harvested and divided into 1:2, 2:1, 1:1 concentration groups. Cel s induced by transforming growth factor beta 1 acted as control group. After 20 days of induced culture, MTT was used to detect cel viability, alcian blue colorimetric assay was applied to measure glycosaminoglycan content, and western blot assay was employed to determine the expression of col agen type II. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The absorbance value in the control group was significantly lower than that in the 1:1 and 2:1 groups (P0.05). The results show that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s co-cultured with articular chondrocytes can be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes, and meanwhile, there is a saturation phenomenon during the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s.