Effects of bone marrow-derived mast cells on expressions of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan in co-cultured chondrocytes / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of the bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) on the expression of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in chondrocytes co-cultured with BMMCs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primarily cultured mouse BMMCs at 4 weeks and the second passage of chondrocytes were plated in a Transwell co-cultured system at a ratio of 110 in the presence or absence of sodium cromoglycate (DSCG) or compound 48/80 (C48/80). The chondrocytes were harvested and lysed for detecting type II collagen expression with ELISA and Western blotting and GAG expression using 1,9 dimethylmethylene blue (DBM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After a 24-hour culture, the chondrocytes co-cultured with BMMCs showed similar expression levels of type II collagen and GAG to the control group regardless of the presence of DSCG (P>0.05). Compared with chondrocytes cultured alone or with BMMCs, the co-cultured chondrocytes in the presence of C48/80 showed significantly lower expressions of type II collagen and GAG (P<0.01). Such results did not vary significantly as the culture time was extended to 48 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>C48/80-activated BMMCs can reduce the expression of type II collagen and GAG in chondrocytes in the co-culture system.</p>