Observation of the biological behavior of in vitro cultured immortalized chondrocytes induced by SV40LTAg gene transfection]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological characteristics of immortalized chondrocytes cultured in vitro. METHODS: Primary chondrocytes were immortalized with SV40LTAg gene transfection and grown in monolayer culture. The biological characteristics of the cells were defined in terms of cell morphology and proliferative capacity observed under inverted microscope. GAG synthesis was assessed with toluidine blue and safranine O staining and type-II collagen levels by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After 50 passages, the immortalized chondrocytes appeared polygonal or triangular with still vigorous proliferative capacity in monolayer culture and positivity for GAG and collagen type II as characteristic of chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: The immortalized chondrocytes cultured in vitro can maintain their phenotype in a long term.