Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in PGA Polymeric Scaffolds / 대한정형외과연구학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To characterize the chondrogenic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in porous polymeric scaffolds by poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) as three-dimensional constructs to facilitate chondrogenic differentiation. METHODS: Human MSCs were isolated by percoll gradient method and adherent cell cultures were obtained. Isolated MSCs were characterized with CD 34 and Sca-1 antibodies using flow cytometry. MSCs were seeded in the PGA polymeric scaffolds for 28 days in a specialized defined medium. The control group was examined without the specialized defined medium. The chondrogenesis of MSCs-seeded polymer scaffolds culture was assessed by histology, RT-PCR and 35S-sulfate incorporation. RESULTS: Flow cytometry result showed that CD 34 was negative and Sca-1 was 93+/-10% positive. By the histological analysis from Safranin-O staining, it was confirmed that the chondrogenic differentiated human MSCs expressed chondrocyte-like morphologies. We also observed that type II collagen was expressed by RT-PCR. The degree of proteoglycan synthesis was higher in the experimental group than the control group. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that the biodegradable porous polymeric scaffolds and the specialized defined medium is able to provide three-dimensional constructs for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs.