ABSTRACT
Objective The present study aims to explore the optimal combination of growth factors, including TGF-?_1,IGF-I and BMP-2,for the induction of ehondrogenesis of MSCs in vitro monolayer culture. Methods MSCs were induced to differentiate into ehondrocytes in the medium with the following growth fac- tors:TGF-?_1,BMP-2 and IGF-I,either alone or in combination.We detected two cartilage specific markers in differentiated cells.Alcian blue stain was used for aggreean and RT-PCR for collagen type II mRNA.Results The level of Collagen typeⅡmRNA of group BMP-2+IGF-I,TGF-?_1,TGF-?_1+IGF-I,TGF-?_1+BMP-2 and TGF-?_1+IGF-I+BMP-2 was 0.147?0.062,0.478?0.069,0.489?0.022,0.653?0.013,0.807?0.051 respectively. Alcian blue stain in all gruups were positive.Conclusion The TGF-?_1+IGF-I+BMP-2 group is the most ef- fective combination in chondrogenesis induction.