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Intermittent hydrostatic pressure maintains and enhances the chondrogenic differentiation of cartilage progenitor cells cultivated in alginate beads
Author(s) -
Li Yang,
Zhou Jianxin,
Yang Xiaofei,
Jiang Yiqiu,
Gui Jianchao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/dgd.12261
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , chondrocyte , staining , cartilage , hydrostatic pressure , extracellular matrix , progenitor cell , microbiology and biotechnology , glycosaminoglycan , chemistry , biology , andrology , stem cell , anatomy , medicine , genetics , physics , thermodynamics
The objective of this study was to explore the effects of intermittent hydrostatic pressure ( IHP ) on the chondrogenic differentiation of cartilage progenitor cells ( CPC s) cultivated in alginate beads. CPC s were isolated from the knee joint cartilage of rabbits, and infrapatellar fat pad‐derived stem cells ( FPSC s) and chondrocytes ( CC s) were included as the control cell types. Cells embedded in alginate beads were treated with IHP at 5 Mpa and 0.5 Hz for 4 h/day for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The cells' migratory and proliferative capacities were evaluated using the scratch and Live/Dead assays, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, safranin O staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to determine the effects of IHP on the synthesis of extracellular matrix ( ECM ) proteins. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to measure the expression of genes related to chondrogenesis. The scratch and Live/Dead assays revealed that IHP significantly promoted the migration and proliferation of FPSC s and CPC s to different extents. The staining experiments showed greater production of cartilage ECM components (glycosaminoglycans and collagen II ) by cells exposed to IHP , and the gene expression analysis demonstrated that IHP stimulated the expression of chondrocyte‐related genes. Importantly, these effects of IHP were more prominent in CPC s than in FPSC s and CC s. Considering all of our experimental results combined, we conclude that CPC s demonstrated a stronger chondrogenic differentiation capacity than the FPSC s and CC s under stimulation with IHP . Thus, the use of CPC s, combined with mechanical stimulation, may represent a valuable strategy for cartilage tissue engineering.