Abstract
Background The articular cartilage is unique in that it contains only a single type of cell and shows poor ability for spontaneous healing. Cartilage tissue engineering which uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) is considered an attractive treatment for cartilage lesions and osteoarthritis. The establishment of cartilage regenerative medicine is an important clinical issue, but the search for cell sources able to restore cartilage integrity proves to be challenging. The aim of this study was to create cartilage grafts from the combination of AT-MSCs and collagen substrates. Methods Mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from human donors' adipose tissue, and collagen scaffold, obtained from human skin and cleaned from blood vessels, adipose tissues, and debris, which only preserve dermis and epidermis, were seeded and cultured on collagen substrates and differentiated to chondrocytes. The obtained chondrocyte extracellular matrix of cartilage was then evaluated for the expression of chondrocyte-/cartilage-specific markers, the Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP), collagen X, alpha-1 polypeptide (COL10A1), and the Collagen II, Human Tagged ORF Clone (COL2A1) by using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Our findings have shown that the dermal collagen may exert important effects on the quality of in vitro expanded chondrocytes, leading in this way that the influence of collagen skin matrix helps to produce highly active and functional chondrocytes for long-term cartilage tissue regeneration. Conclusion This research opens up the possibility of generating cartilage grafts with the precise purpose of improving the existing limitation in current clinical procedures.
Highlights
Cartilage is one of the most important structural tissues and together with bone is subjected to deterioration under the effect of multiple conditions such as aging, metabolic disorders, hormonal deficit, and traumatic injuries [1]
The chondrocytes are cells of mesenchymal origin and form the 5% of the entire cartilage tissue though they work as main homeostasis factors producing and regulating the remaining 95% of cartilage compound made of extracellular matrix (ECM), of which collagen type 2 and proteoglycans (PGs) are the main components [3, 4]
The aim of this study was to present an innovative procedure for the generation of a cartilage-like tissue by using a regenerative approach with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (AT-MSCs) seeded on human dermal collagen matrix obtained from human skin
Summary
Cartilage is one of the most important structural tissues and together with bone is subjected to deterioration under the effect of multiple conditions such as aging, metabolic disorders, hormonal deficit, and traumatic injuries [1]. 3-Radial zone 4-Subchondral bone (calcified area) and lymphatic support [1]. For this reason, therapeutic regenerative approaches have encountered strong limitations and poor outcomes [2]. The chondrocytes are cells of mesenchymal origin and form the 5% of the entire cartilage tissue though they work as main homeostasis factors producing and regulating the remaining 95% of cartilage compound made of extracellular matrix (ECM), of which collagen type 2 and proteoglycans (PGs) are the main components [3, 4]. Cartilage tissue histologically consists of four substrates, the most superficial one in relation with the synovial fluid and chondrocyte progenitors, the intermediate area contradistinguished by round chondrocytes followed by the radial zone, and a final calcified area close to subchondral bone (Figure 1) [4, 5]. This research opens up the possibility of generating cartilage grafts with the precise purpose of improving the existing limitation in current clinical procedures
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