Link Protein N-Terminal Peptide as a Potential Stimulating Factor for Stem Cell-Based Cartilage Regeneration.

Ruijun He,Zhidao Xia,Zhe Wang,Min Cui,Zekang Xiong,Shaun Peggrem,Zengwu Shao,Zhiliang Li,Lei Zhao,Baichuan Wang,Hui Lin

doi:10.1155/2018/3217895

Abstract

Background Link protein N-terminal peptide (LPP) in extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage could induce synthesis of proteoglycans and collagen type II in cartilaginous cells. Cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs), the endogenous stem cells in cartilage, are important in cartilage degeneration and regeneration. We hypothesized that LPP could be a stimulator for stem cell-based cartilage regeneration by affecting biological behaviors of CSPC. Methods CSPCs were isolated from rat knee cartilage. We evaluated the promoting effect of LPP on proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of CSPCs. The chondrogenic differentiation-related genes and proteins were quantitated. Three-dimensional culture of CSPC was conducted in the presence of TGF-β3 or LPP, and the harvested pellets were analyzed to assess the function of LPP on cartilage regeneration. Results LPP stimulated the proliferation of CSPC and accelerated the site-directional migration. Higher expression of SOX9, collagen II, and aggrecan were demonstrated in CSPCs treated with LPP. The pellets treated with LPP showed more distinct characteristics of chondroid differentiation than those with TGF-β3. Conclusion LPP showed application prospect in cartilage regeneration medicine by stimulating proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of cartilage stem/progenitor cells.

Highlights

Articular cartilage is insufficient with intrinsic repairing ability because of its avascular and nerveless structure
As the most common growth factor applied in cartilage tissue engineering, transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) has a short half-life, which results in a dilemma that when it existed in the joint for too long, TGF-β3 would enhance inflammation [9], but a short-term application may not be sufficient for cartilage regeneration
We focused on the effects of Link protein N-terminal peptide (LPP) on proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of rat cartilage stem/progenitor cells to see if LPP can act as a stimulating factor for the Cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs)-based cartilage regeneration

Summary

Background

Link protein N-terminal peptide (LPP) in extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage could induce synthesis of proteoglycans and collagen type II in cartilaginous cells. We hypothesized that LPP could be a stimulator for stem cell-based cartilage regeneration by affecting biological behaviors of CSPC. We evaluated the promoting effect of LPP on proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of CSPCs. The chondrogenic differentiation-related genes and proteins were quantitated. Three-dimensional culture of CSPC was conducted in the presence of TGF-β3 or LPP, and the harvested pellets were analyzed to assess the function of LPP on cartilage regeneration. LPP stimulated the proliferation of CSPC and accelerated the site-directional migration. Higher expression of SOX9, collagen II, and aggrecan were demonstrated in CSPCs treated with LPP. The pellets treated with LPP showed more distinct characteristics of chondroid differentiation than those with TGF-β3. LPP showed application prospect in cartilage regeneration medicine by stimulating proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of cartilage stem/progenitor cells

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Conflicts of Interest