Differentiation of extracellular matrix in the cellular cartilage ("Zellknorpel") of the mouse pinna

Summary Differentiation of cellular cartilage was studied in the mouse pinna with particular reference to matrix material. Fixation of glycosaminoglycans was performed by the use of acridine orange and elastin was identified by staining thin sections with tannic acid and uranyl acetate.Condensation of mesenchymal cells (prechondroblasts) initiates the formation of a blastema of cartilaginous tissue at postnatal day 4. The synthesis of acidic glycosaminoglycans begins at postnatal day 8 when prechondroblasts transform to chondroblasts. Glycosaminoglycans can be detected within secretory vesicles of chondroblasts at postnatal day 8, in the extracellular space at postnatal day 13. Delicate collagen fibrils and elastic fiber microfibrils are seen between prechondroblasts and chondroblasts. Deposition of elastin begins at postnatal day 11. A network of elastic fibers and lamellae is formed, which replaces both collagen fibrils and elastic fiber microfibrils. In the interstice of mature cellular cartilage only elastin and proteoglycans are present (postnatal day 21).These findings indicate that cellular cartilage represents an independent kind of supporting tissue, which may serve as a progenitor of hyaline or elastic cartilage (transitional cellular cartilage) but does not differentiate from hyalin cartilage.With financial support from the Hochschuljubiläumsstiftung der Stadt Wien. Part of this work has been presented at the 3. Arbeitstagung der Anatomischen Gesellschaft, Würzburg, 6.-8. 10. 1982     

Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis reduces cyclic AMP levels and inhibits chondrogenesis in cultured chick limb mesenchyme

The present study investigated effects of inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) on cyclic AMP concentrations and chondrogenesis in cultured chick limb mesenchyme. Indomethacin produced concentration-dependent inhibition of both PGE₂ synthesis and chondrogenesis over a concentration range of 50--200 M. Half maximal inhibition of PGE₂ was achieved with 50 M concentrations of the drug which also produced visibly reduced amounts of cartilage matrix in cell cultures as evaluated by Alcian green staining on day 6 of culture. The inhibitory effects of indomethacin on chondrogenesis were largely reversed by addition of 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP, indicating that cells could still respond to cyclic AMP stimulation. Endogenous levels of cyclic AMP, which increased by 6 fold during the six days of culture in control cells, did not increase significantly from dissociated cells at the time of plating (day 0) in indomethacin-treated cultures. The results indicate that inhibition of the prechondrogenic rise in PGE₂ concentrations in limb mesenchyme prevents the increase in cyclic AMP levels which occur during this same period resulting in inhibition of chondrogenesis. The data provide further support for the hypothesis that PGE₂, through its effects on the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system, plays an important role in the differentiation of cartilage.     

增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因转染及TGFβ3诱导前软骨干细胞向成软骨方向分化

目的　探讨增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因 (EGFP)转染前软骨干细胞 (PSCs)的效果及TGFβ3 诱导PSCs向成软骨方向定向分化的可行性。方法　利用磁性细胞分选系统分离纯化有成纤维细胞生长因子受体 3(FGFR 3)表面标志的PSCs。采用脂质体介导法将EGFP基因转染PSCs,G4 18筛选得到EGFP基因修饰PSCs。用免疫组化及免疫荧光检测EGFP基因修饰PSCs的FGFR 3表达。采用藻酸盐凝胶培养 ,以TGFβ3 诱导分离纯化的PSCs向成软骨方向定向分化。应用免疫组化、RT PCR检测PSCs向成软骨方向分化过程中特异性软骨基质成分的表达情况。结果　EGFP基因转染PSCs后 ,2 4hGFP开始表达 ,4 8～ 72hGFP表达最强。G4 18筛选后 ,EGFP基因修饰PSCs体外培养 6周仍有较强GFP表达。在含TGFβ3 的藻酸盐凝胶培养 7、14、2 1d均有II型胶原表达 ;诱导2 1d的PSCs免疫组化检测可见细胞及周围均有X型胶原、Aggrecan、COMP表达 ;RT PCR检测显示在培养早期 ( 8d内 )开始出现Aggrecan、X型胶原、COMP等的表达 ,中期 ( 8d后...     

Rejuvenation of chondrogenic potential in a young stem cell microenvironment

Autologous cells suffer from limited cell number and senescence during ex vivo expansion for cartilage repair. Here we found that expansion on extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by fetal synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) (FE) was superior to ECM deposited by adult SDSCs (AE) in promoting cell proliferation and chondrogenic potential. Unique proteins in FE might be responsible for the rejuvenation effect of FE while advantageous proteins in AE might contribute to differentiation more than to proliferation. Compared to AE, the lower elasticity of FE yielded expanded adult SDSCs with lower elasticity which could be responsible for the enhancement of chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation. MAPK and noncanonical Wnt signals were actively involved in ECM-mediated adult SDSC rejuvenation.     

Potential involvement of BMP receptor type IB activation in a synergistic effect of chondrogenic promotion between rhTGFβ3 and rhGDF5 or rhBMP7 in human mesenchymal stem cells

Chondrogenic promotion by rhGDF5 with or without rhTGFβ3 was studied in pellet culture of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs). A synergy between rhGDF5 and rhTGFβ3 was observed in promoting chondrogenesis. rhBMP2, rhBMP6, rhBMP7 and rhTGFβ1 were further tested and showed the same effect. To explore the mechanism, the expression of TGFβtype I and II receptors, ALK5, ALK2, ALK3, ALK6, TGFβRII, BMPRII, ActRII was studied. ALK6 showed increase by the rhTGFβ1 or rhTGFβ3 treatment. ALK6 protein expression also showed increase by rhTGFβ3. rhTGFβ1/rhTGFβ3 induced ALK6 up-regulation was inhibited by SD-208, a TGFβ type I receptor inhibitor. Chondrogenesis by rhTGFβ1/rhTGFβ3 or the combination between rhTGFβ1/rhTGFβ3 and rhGDF5 also was diminished by SD-208. SMAD1/5/8 phosphorylation in nascent human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs) was stimulated weakly by rhGDF5 but strongly by rhBMP7. The rhGDF5 stimulated SMAD1/5/8 phosphorylation was enhanced by rhTGFβ1/rhTGFβ3 but inhibited by SD-208. The rhBMP7 stimulated SMAD1/5/8 phosphorylation did not show influence by rhTGFβ3 and SD-208. Our results indicated the potential involvement of ALK6 activation by rhTGFβs in the synergy between rhTGFβs and rhBMPs.     

Differential effect of hypoxia on human mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis and hypertrophy in hyaluronic acid hydrogels

Photocrosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels provide a conducive 3-D environment that supports the chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The HA macromer concentration in the hydrogels has a significant impact on the chondrogenesis of the encapsulated MSCs due to changes in the physical properties of the hydrogels. Meanwhile, hypoxia has been shown to promote MSC chondrogenesis and suppress subsequent hypertrophy. This study investigates the combinatorial effect of tuning HA macromer concentration (1.5–5% w/v) and hypoxia on MSC chondrogenesis and hypertrophy. To decouple the effect of HA concentration from that of crosslinking density, the HA hydrogel crosslinking density was adjusted by varying the extent of the reaction through the light exposure time while keeping the HA concentration constant (5% w/v at 5 or 15 min). It was found that hypoxia had no significant effect on the chondrogenesis and cartilaginous matrix synthesis of hMSCs under all hydrogel conditions. In contrast, the hypoxia-mediated positive or negative regulation of hMSC hypertrophy in HA hydrogels is dependent on the HA concentration but independent of the crosslinking density. Specifically, hypoxia significantly suppressed hMSC hypertrophy and neocartilage calcification in low HA concentration hydrogels, whereas hypoxia substantially enhanced hMSC hypertrophy, leading to elevated tissue calcification in high HA concentration hydrogels irrespective of their crosslinking density. In addition, at a constant high HA concentration, increasing hydrogel crosslinking density promoted hMSC hypertrophy and matrix calcification. To conclude, the findings from this study demonstrate that the effect of hypoxia on hMSC chondrogenesis and hypertrophy is differentially influenced by the encapsulating HA hydrogel properties.     

胰岛素样生长因子和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白在软骨细胞生长和发育过程中的调控作用研究进展

胰岛素样生长因子（Insulin-like growth factors,IGFs）,是机体生理情况下调控生长和发育的重要生长因子。IGFs在长骨发育,即软骨内化骨的调控中发挥重要作用。IGF-I参与调节了间充质干细胞的成软骨过程并进而参与了软骨组织稳态的保持。胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白（Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins,IGFBPs）代表了一个能与IGF-I和IGF-2相结合的进化上保守的蛋白质家族,包括6个独立的家族成员IGFBP1、2、3、4、5、6,它们具有调控和储存转运IGFs的作用以及独立于IGFs的作用,在机体生长和发育中发挥重要的功能,在软骨组织的发育中同样扮演着重要的角色。本文综述了IGFs和IGFBPs对软骨细胞生长和发育的生理调节功能,从而为IGFs在软骨组织工程领域的应用提供参考。     

组织工程化软骨分泌的可溶性因子对骨髓基质干细胞诱导作用的实验研究

目的 探讨组织工程化软骨分泌的可溶性因子是否能够单独诱导骨髓基质干细胞(bone marrow stromai cells,BMSCs)软骨分化.方法 体外培养扩增猪BMSCs、猪关节软骨细胞以及皮肤成纤维细胞,以5.0×107/ml的细胞终浓度分别接种于聚羟基乙酸/聚乳酸(PGA/PLA)支架,应用隔离池进行隔离共培养.以软骨细胞-材料复合物与BMSCs-材料复合物隔离共培养为实验组,以皮肤成纤维细胞-材料复合物与BMSCs-材料复合物隔离共培养为对照组1,以单纯BMSCs-材料复合物为对照组2.各组标本均于体外培养8周后取材,通过大体观察,组织学,以及免疫组织化学,RT-PCR等方法对新生组织进行评价.结果 隔离共培养8周后,实验组软骨细胞材料-复合物诱导的BMSCs-材料复合物形成的组织略有缩小,外观类似软骨组织,组织学检测见软骨陷窝样结构,SafraninO染色可见软骨特异性基质分泌,免疫组化显示有大量Ⅱ型胶原沉积,RT-PCR检测组织表达Ⅱ型胶原、Ⅸ型胶原、COMP、Sox9等软骨特异性基因,提示形成了较成熟软骨样组织;而对照组成纤维细胞材料复合物诱导的BMSCs-材料复合物和未经任何诱导的BMSCs-材料复合物形成的组织淡黄色,明显缩小、变薄、质地较软,组织学检测均未形成软骨陷窝样结构,主要为纤维性成分,各种软骨特异性相关检测均为阴性.结论 软骨细胞分泌的可溶性因子能够单独诱导BMSCs软骨分化,可能是软骨细胞形成的微环境中发挥诱导作用的主要因素.     

Development of PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase activity during chondrogenesis in cultured mesenchyme from chick limb buds

Summary The present study investigated the development of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in chondrogenic cells differentiating from chick limb mesenchyme in culture. Mesenchyme from stage 25 chick embryos was removed from the distal tip (0.3 mm) of limb buds and cultured for a 6 day period in high density micromass cultures. Under these conditions, initial appearance of cartilage matrix and chondroblasts occurred on day 3 of culture and rapidly progressed over the next 3 days to produce, by day 6, a highly confluent and homogeneous layer of cartilage matrix and chondrocytes. Cells initially dissociated from limb mesenchyme on day 0 were essentially unresponsive to PTH, but development of AC-coupled, PTH receptors occurred rapidly during the initial 24 hours of culture. Based on data from dose-response experiments, prechondrogenic cells on day 1 of culture had synthesized their full complement of these receptors relative to fully differentiated chondrocytes in cultures at day 6. Inhibition of chondrocyte differentiation by retinoic acid did not significantly affect the initial development of AC-coupled, PTH receptors but it almost completely prevented synthesis of cartilage matrix. The results indicate that development of AC-coupled PTH receptors during chondrogenesis precedes, by at least 48 hours, overt differentiation of chondrocytes and the accumulation of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix and appears to represent one of the earliest reported events in chondrocyte differentiation. The lack of effect of retinoids on development of these receptors indicates that the inhibitory effects of retinoids on differentiating cartilage are at least somewhat specific for genes regulating synthesis of extracellular matrix molecules.