Open AccessMolecular and cellular characterization during chondrogenic differentiation of adipose tissue‐derived stromal cells in vitro and cartilage formation in vivo
Author(s) -
Lin Yunfeng,
Luo En,
Chen Xizhe,
Liu Lei,
Qiao Ju,
Yan Zhengbin,
Li Zhiyong,
Tang Wei,
Zheng Xiaohui,
Tian Weidong
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00389.x
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , aggrecan , cartilage , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , extracellular matrix , type ii collagen , chemistry , adipose tissue , stromal cell , cartilage oligomeric matrix protein , cellular differentiation , biology , pathology , anatomy , biochemistry , osteoarthritis , cancer research , medicine , alternative medicine , gene , articular cartilage
Human adipose tissue is a viable source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with wide differentiation potential for musculoskeletal tissue engineering research. The stem cell population, termed processed lipoaspirate (PLA) cells, can be isolated from human lipoaspirates and expanded in vitro easily. This study was to determine molecular and cellular characterization of PLA cells during chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and cartilage formation in vivo . When cultured in vitro with chondrogenic medium as monolayers in high density, they could be induced toward the chondrogenic lineages. To determine their ability of cartilage formation in vivo , the induced cells in alginate gel were implanted in nude mice subcutaneously for up to 20 weeks. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the induced cells and retrieved specimens from nude mice at various intervals showed obviously cartilaginous phenotype with positive staining of specific extracellular matrix (ECM). Correlatively, results of RT‐PCR and Western Blot confirmed the expression of characteristic molecules during chondrogenic differentiation namely collagen type II, SOX9, cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) and the cartilage‐specific proteoglycan aggrecan. Meanwhile, there was low level synthesis of collagen type X and decreasing production of collagen type I during induction in vitro and formation of cartilaginous tissue in vivo . These cells induced to form engineered cartilage can maintain the stable phenotype and indicate no sign of hypertrophy in 20 weeks in vivo , however, when they cultured as monolayers, they showed prehypertrophic alteration in late stage about 10 weeks after induction. Therefore, it is suggested that human adipose tissue may represent a novel plentiful source of multipotential stem cells capable of undergoing chondrogenesis and forming engineered cartilage.