ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Nowadays, growth factors are commonly used to induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, this is a high-cost method with a great amount of growth factors. In addition, the chondrogenic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells wil decrease significantly with increasing times of culture. OBJECTIVE:To observe the directed differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with human synovial fluid. METHODS:Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured by adherence screening method. The synovial fluid of the knee was aspirated from healthy volunteers by aseptic operation. Passage 3 human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were co-cultured with the fol owing media:synovial fluid+complete medium;synovial fluid+bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells+complete medium;bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells+complete medium. The morphology and growth of the cells were observed under an inverted microscope every day. At days 7, 14 and 21 of induction, toluidine blue staining and immunocytochemical staining were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After co-culture with human synovial fluid, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferated slowly, and varied from fusiform to oval or polygonal;toluidine blue and col agen II staining were positive. These findings indicate that the synovial fluid has a positive role in the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The synovial fluid may contain substances that promote the chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.