Premature induction of hypertrophy during in vitro chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells correlates with calcification and vascular invasion after ectopic transplantation in SCID mice
Karoliina Pelttari
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Ms Pelttari and Dr. Winter contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorAnja Winter
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Ms Pelttari and Dr. Winter contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorEric Steck
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKatrin Goetzke
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorThea Hennig
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorBjoern Gunnar Ochs
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Wiltrud Richter
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Division of Experimental Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Clinic, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, D-69118 Heidelberg, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorKaroliina Pelttari
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Ms Pelttari and Dr. Winter contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorAnja Winter
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Ms Pelttari and Dr. Winter contributed equally to this work.
Search for more papers by this authorEric Steck
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKatrin Goetzke
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorThea Hennig
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorBjoern Gunnar Ochs
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Wiltrud Richter
Orthopaedic University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Division of Experimental Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Clinic, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, D-69118 Heidelberg, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorAbstract
Objective
Functional suitability and phenotypic stability of ectopic transplants are crucial factors in the clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for articular cartilage repair, and might require a stringent control of chondrogenic differentiation. This study evaluated whether human bone marrow–derived MSCs adopt natural differentiation stages during induction of chondrogenesis in vitro, and whether they can form ectopic stable cartilage that is resistant to vascular invasion and calcification in vivo.
Methods
During in vitro chondrogenesis of MSCs, the expression of 44 cartilage-, stem cell–, and bone-related genes and the deposition of aggrecan and types II and X collagen were determined. Similarly treated, expanded articular chondrocytes served as controls. MSC pellets were allowed to differentiate in chondrogenic medium for 3–7 weeks, after which the chondrocytes were implanted subcutaneously into SCID mice; after 4 weeks in vivo, samples were evaluated by histology.
Results
The 3-stage chondrogenic differentiation cascade initiated in MSCs was primarily characterized by sequential up-regulation of common cartilage genes. Premature induction of hypertrophy-related molecules (type X collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13) occurred before production of type II collagen and was followed by up-regulation of alkaline phosphatase activity. In contrast, hypertrophy-associated genes were not induced in chondrocyte controls. Whereas control chondrocyte pellets resisted calcification and vascular invasion in vivo, most MSC pellets mineralized, in spite of persisting proteoglycan and type II collagen content.
Conclusion
An unnatural pathway of differentiation to chondrocyte-like cells was induced in MSCs by common in vitro protocols. MSC pellets transplanted to ectopic sites in SCID mice underwent alterations related to endochondral ossification rather than adopting a stable chondrogenic phenotype. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether a more stringent control of MSC differentiation to chondrocytes can be achieved during cartilage repair in a natural joint environment.
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