Tenogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells in hypoxia / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are gaining widespread interest in the Achil es tendon tissue engineering and regeneration, and an enabling environment (oxygen concentration) for cellinduction and differentiation is particularly necessary. OBJECTIVE:To co-culture adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with primary tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension) in order to determine whether the two conditions differ in their effect on tenogenic differentiation. METHODS:Tenocytes were isolated via serial expansion in culture from several Sprague-Dawley rats’ Achil es tendons. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were purchased. After one passage, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were indirectly co-cultured with tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension). Col agen 1, col agen 3, Tenomodulin, Thrombospondin-4, Scleraxis levels were compared for each culture condition at 7, 14 and 21 days fol owing co-culturing. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate production of col agen 1 and Thrombospondin-4. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fol owing indirect co-culturing, hypoxic differentiated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells expressed higher levels of tendon-related genes and proteins than normoxic controls, which suggest that oxygen levels can significantly affect tenogenic differentiation, and hypoxia is advantageous for efficient differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro for tendon tissue engineering.