Glucosamine increases the expression of YKL-40 and osteogenic marker genes in hMSC during osteogenic differentiation

Ramona Lieder,Sveinn Gudmundsson,Pétur Henry Petersen,Jóhannes Björnsson,Jon Magnús Einarsson,Sigrídur Thóra Reynisdóttir,Ólafur Eysteinn Sigurjónsson,Jóhannes Gíslason,Chuen-How Ng,Finnbogi Thormódsson

doi:10.1007/s13659-012-0017-0

Abstract

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) can be expanded in vitro and differentiated towards osteogenic, chondrogenic or adipogenic lineages, making them an attractive source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Chitinase-like-proteins (CLPs) belong to the family 18 glycosyl hydrolases and are believed to play a role in inflammation and tissue remodelling. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the aminosugar glucosamine on the expression of the CLP YKL-40 during osteogenic differentiation of hMSC. Glucosamine did not affect multipotency of hMSC nor proliferation rate of undifferentiated hMSC. YKL-40 was expressed during both expansion of undifferentiated hMSC and during osteogenic differentiation. A slight but nonsignificant increase in YKL-40 expression was observed with glucosamine, accompanied by a pH-dependent delay in mineralization. However, glucosamine induced higher expression of osteogenic marker genes. Electronic Supplementary MaterialSupplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0017-0 and is accessible for authorized users.

Highlights

Stem cells hold a great promise as a tool in basic research and development of drugs and new treatments in regenerative medicine
We show that the chitinase-like-protein YKL-40 is expressed in Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and is maintained during osteogenic differentiation of these cells
Short-term expansion of cells in control media and glucosamine supplemented media did not lead to changes in the expression of cell surface markers and the cells comply with the characteristics of bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells[17]

Summary

Introduction

Stem cells hold a great promise as a tool in basic research and development of drugs and new treatments in regenerative medicine. Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) is a commonly used term for a heterogeneous population of cells that can be derived from human bone marrow, adipose tissue, peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood[1,2]. These cells can differentiate into cells of the mesenchymal lineage, e.g. to osteoblasts, chondrocytes, fibroblasts and adipocytes, as well as, stromal cells of the bone marrow[3]. Whether triggering of the immune response and the potential role in tissue remodelling is directly affected by the chitinase-like-proteins or dependent on YKL-40 is expressed by articular chondrocytes, synoviocytes, osteoblasts and differentiated macrophages and is up-regulated in inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis[6,11]. It has been proposed that YKL-40 might prevent damage to the extra-cellular matrix during inflammation by reducing the deleterious effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines[12]

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