Chondrogenesis of synovial mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with chondrocytes on the three-dimensional scaffold / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Articular chondrocytes with the ability of autocrine and paracrine can provide the growth factors and microenvironment for synovial mesenchymal stem cels differentiating into the chondrocyte. The three-dimensional scaffold could provide space for cels adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. OBJECTIVE: To study the ability of chondrogenesis by co-culturing synovial mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes under the three-dimensional condition. METHODS:The synovial membrane and articular cartilage were harvested from rat knee joint. The synovial mesenchymal stem cels and chondrocytes were obtained through the method of enzyme digestion. The passage 3 synovial mesenchymal stem cels and passage 2 chondrocytes were co-cultured in the chitosan/I colagen composite scaffolds at the ratio of 12. Then, the cels/scaffold composite was harvested to be examined morphologicaly, histologicaly and immunohistochemicaly after being cultured 21 days. The confocal laser was also employed to detect the cels distribution in the scaffold. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After being cultured 72 hours, it could be observed from the cels/scaffold composite examined through the scanning electron microscope that the cels adhered on the surface of the scaffold and extracelular matrix surrounding the cels was seen on the scaffold. After being cultured 21 days, it could be found through the confocal laser scanning that the cels were wel-distributed on the scaffold, and cels decreased gradualy. Type II colagen was positive in the extracelular matrix immunohistochamicaly. It suggested from this study that the synovial mesenchymal stem cels could be co-cultured with chondrocytes in the chitosan/I colagen composite scaffolds and have the ability of chondrogenesis differentiation.