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Effects of growth factors on cell proliferation and matrix synthesis of low‐density, primary bovine chondrocytes cultured in collagen I gels
Author(s) -
Chaipinyo Kanda,
Oakes Barry W.,
van Damme MariePaule I.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-0266(02)00025-6
Subject(s) - chondrocyte , chemistry , matrix (chemical analysis) , proteoglycan , extracellular matrix , cartilage , microbiology and biotechnology , fibril , cell culture , cell growth , biophysics , type ii collagen , anatomy , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , genetics , chromatography
Low cell density cell numbers and dedifferentiation are two major problems of human chondrocyte culture associated with articular cartilage repair. Bovine chondrocytes seeded at low density (3.5 x 10 4 cells/ml of gels) in three‐dimensional collagen type I gels do proliferate and maintain their phenotype as shown by cell counts, morphology and matrix synthesis. The combination of three growth factors (3GFs; 10 ng/ml TGF‐β1 + 100 ng/ml IGF‐I + 10 ng/ml b‐FGF) added to serum‐free culture medium in this culture system enhances the mitotic activity of bovine chondrocytes similar to 20% foetal calf serum (FCS). At day 21, cells proliferated by 41 fold in gels–FCS and 37 fold in gels–3GFs. Protein synthesis by gels–3GFs cultures was similar to 20% PCS when cultured for 3 weeks but much less proteoglycan was synthesized. The matrix deposition as observed by light and electron microscopy was quite different. More small diameter branching collagen fibrils and a denser matrix were presented in gels‐FCS culture whilst loosely arranged larger diameter collagen fibrils were observed in gels‐3GFs. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.