Experimental study on chondrogenesis by coª²culture of rabbit mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes

    NI Yunª²Feng, LI Xiaoª²Fei, LIU Yuan, LEI Zhanª²Jun, LU Qiang

    Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710038, China, Department of Pathology, Stomatological Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To explore the feasibility of in vivo chondrogenesis by coª²culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and chondrocytes. METHODS: Rabbit MSCs and chondrocytes were in vitro isolated, cultured and expanded respectively and then were mixed at a ratio of 3¡Ã1 (MSCs¡Ãchondrocytes). The mixed cells were seeded onto PGA scaffold at the ultimate concentration of 6.0¡Á1010/L as coª²culture group. MSCs and chondrocytes of the same ultimate concentration were seeded respectively onto the scaffold as negative control group(MSCs group)and positive control group(chondrocyte group). Then, the cellª²scaffold constructs were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue of adult rabbits. All specimens were harvested after in vivo culture for 8 weeks. Gross observation and histology were used to evaluate the new cartilage. RESULTS: Cells in all groups had a fine adhesion to the scaffold. In both coª²culture group and positive control group, the cellª²scaffold constructs could maintain the original size and shape during in vivo culture and formed homogenous mature cartilage after 8 weeks of in vivo culture. Furthermore, the neoª²cartilages in both groups were similar to each other in gross appearance and histological features. In negative control group, the cartilage was not formed but the connective tissue. CONCLUSION: Chonª²drocytes can provide a chondrogenic microenvironment to induce a chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs and thus promote the chondrogenesis of MSCs in vivo. ......