The direction of human mesenchymal stem cells into the chondrogenic lineage is influenced by the features of hydrogel carriers

• Low back pain is a major public health issue in the Western world, one main cause is believed to be intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. To halt/diminish IVD degeneration, cell therapy using different biomaterials e.g. hydrogels as cell carriers has been suggested. In this study, two different hydrogels were examined (in vitro) as potential cell carriers for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) intended for IVD transplantation. The aim was to investigate cell- survival and chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs when cultured in hydrogels Puramatrix((R)) or Hydromatrix((R)) and potential effects of stimulation with growth hormone (GH). hMSCs/hydrogel cultures were investigated for cell-viability, attachment, gene expressionof chondrogenic markers SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In both hydrogel types, hMSCs were viable for 28 days, expressed integrin beta 1 which indicates adhesion of hMSCs. Differentiation was observed into chondrocyte-like cells, in a higher extent in hMSCs/Hydromatrix((R)) cultures when compared to hMSCs/Puramatrix ((R)) hydrogel cultures. Gene expression analyses of chondrogenic markers verified results. hMSCs/hydrogel cultures stimulated with GH displayed no significant effects on chondrogenesis. In conclusion, both hydrogels, especially Hydromatrix((R)) was demonstrated as a promising cell carrier in vitro for hMSCs, when directed into chondrogenesis. This knowledge could be useful in biological approaches for regeneration of degenerated human IVDs.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cell carrier

vivo

repair

Hydrogels

transplantation

intervertebral disc degeneration

applications

Disc degeneration

ott j. e.

in-vitro

tissue-engineering

model

Intervertebral disc

p73

1964

growth-factors

Anatomy & Morphology

Human mesenchymal stem cells

Cell Biology

v4

low-back-pain

histochemie

therapy

Intervertebral disc

mesenchymal stem cells

hydrogel

cell carrier

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)