Premium
Cartilage, SOX9 and Notch signals in chondrogenesis
Author(s) -
Hardingham Timothy E.,
Oldershaw Rachel A.,
Tew Simon R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00630.x
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , mesenchymal stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cartilage , sox9 , articular cartilage , regeneration (biology) , transcription factor , notch signaling pathway , stem cell , biology , anatomy , osteoarthritis , medicine , signal transduction , pathology , genetics , alternative medicine , gene
Cartilage repair is an ongoing medical challenge. Tissue engineered solutions to this problem rely on the availability of appropriately differentiated cells in sufficient numbers. This review discusses the potential of primary human articular chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells to fulfil this role. Chondrocytes have been transduced with a retrovirus containing the transcription factor SOX9, which permits a greatly improved response of the cells to three‐dimensional culture systems, growth factor stimulation and hypoxic culture conditions. Human mesenchymal stem cells have been differentiated into chondrocytes using well‐established methods, and the Notch signalling pathway has been studied in detail to establish its role during this process. Both approaches offer insights into these in vitro systems that are invaluable to understanding and designing future cartilage regeneration strategies.