Dataset Information

Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes: a novel cell source for elastic cartilage regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Reconstruction of elastic cartilage requires a source of chondrocytes that display a reliable differentiation tendency. Predetermined tissue progenitor cells are ideal candidates for meeting this need; however, it is difficult to obtain donor elastic cartilage tissue because most elastic cartilage serves important functions or forms external structures, making these tissues indispensable. We found vestigial cartilage tissue in xiphoid processes and characterized it as hyaline cartilage in the proximal region and elastic cartilage in the distal region. Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes (XCs) showed superb in vitro expansion ability based on colony-forming unit fibroblast assays, cell yield, and cumulative cell growth. On induction of differentiation into mesenchymal lineages, XCs showed a strong tendency toward chondrogenic differentiation. An examination of the tissue-specific regeneration capacity of XCs in a subcutaneous-transplantation model and autologous chondrocyte implantation model confirmed reliable regeneration of elastic cartilage regardless of the implantation environment. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that xiphoid process cartilage, the only elastic cartilage tissue source that can be obtained without destroying external shape or function, is a source of elastic chondrocytes that show superb in vitro expansion and reliable differentiation capacity. These findings indicate that XCs could be a valuable cell source for reconstruction of elastic cartilage.

SUBMITTER: Nam S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4214841 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes: a novel cell source for elastic cartilage regeneration.

Nam Seungwoo S Cho Wheemoon W Cho Hyunji H Lee Jungsun J Lee EunAh E Son Youngsook Y

Stem cells translational medicine 20140909 11

Reconstruction of elastic cartilage requires a source of chondrocytes that display a reliable differentiation tendency. Predetermined tissue progenitor cells are ideal candidates for meeting this need; however, it is difficult to obtain donor elastic cartilage tissue because most elastic cartilage serves important functions or forms external structures, making these tissues indispensable. We found vestigial cartilage tissue in xiphoid processes and characterized it as hyaline cartilage in the pr ...[more]

PMID: 25205841

Similar Datasets

Project description:UnlabelledArticular cartilage is not a physiologically self-renewing tissue. Injury of cartilage often progresses from the articular surface to the subchondral bone, leading to pathogenesis of tissue degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Therapies to treat cartilage defects using autologous chondrocyte-based tissue engineering have been developed and used for more than 20 years; however, the challenge of chondrocyte expansion in vitro remains. A promising cell source, cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs), has attracted recent attention. Because their origin and identity are still unclear, the application potential of CSPCs is under active investigation. Here we have captured the emergence of a group of stem/progenitor cells derived from adult human chondrocytes, highlighted by dynamic changes in expression of the mature chondrocyte marker, COL2, and mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) marker, CD146. These cells are termed chondrocyte-derived progenitor cells (CDPCs). The stem cell-like potency and differentiation status of CDPCs were determined by physical and biochemical cues during culture. A low-density, low-glucose 2-dimensional culture condition (2DLL) was critical for the emergence and proliferation enhancement of CDPCs. CDPCs showed similar phenotype as bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells but exhibited greater chondrogenic potential. Moreover, the 2DLL-cultured CDPCs proved efficient in cartilage formation both in vitro and in vivo and in repairing large knee cartilage defects (6-13 cm(2)) in 15 patients. These findings suggest a phenotype conversion between chondrocytes and CDPCs and provide conditions that promote the conversion. These insights expand our understanding of cartilage biology and may enhance the success of chondrocyte-based therapies.SignificanceInjury of cartilage, a non-self-repairing tissue, often progresses to pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis. Although tissue-derived stem cells have been shown to contribute to tissue renewal and homeostasis, the derivation, biological function, and application potential of stem/progenitor cells found in adult human articular cartilage are incompletely understood. This study reports the derivation of a population of cartilage stem/progenitor cells from fully differentiated chondrocytes under specific culture conditions, which have the potential to reassume their chondrocytic phenotype for efficient cartilage regeneration. These findings support the possibility of using in vitro amplified chondrocyte-derived progenitor cells for joint cartilage repair.

Project description:BackgroundLimited chondrocyte migration and impaired cartilage-to-cartilage healing is a barrier in cartilage regenerative therapy. Collagenase treatment and delivery of a chemotactic agent may play a positive role in chondrocyte repopulation at the site of cartilage damage. This study evaluated chondrocyte migratory activity after enzymatic treatment in cultured cartilage explant. Differential effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) dimeric isoforms on the migratory activity were investigated to define major chemotactic factors for cartilage.MethodsFull-thickness cartilage (4-mm3 blocks) were harvested from porcine femoral condyles and subjected to explant culture. After 15 min or 60 min of actinase and collagenase treatments, chondrocyte migration and infiltration into a 0.5-mm cartilage gap was investigated. Cell morphology and lubricin, keratan sulfate, and chondroitin 4 sulfate expression in superficial- and deep-zone chondrocytes were assessed. The chemotactic activities of PDGF-AA, -AB, and -BB were measured in each zone of chondrocytes, using a modified Boyden chamber assay. The protein and mRNA expression and histological localization of PDGF-β were analyzed by western blot analysis, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry, and results in each cartilage zone were compared.ResultsSuperficial-zone chondrocytes had higher migratory activity than deep-zone chondrocytes and actively bridged the cartilage gap, while metachromatic staining by toluidine blue and immunoreactivities of keratan sulfate and chondroitin 4 sulfate were detected around the cells migrating from the superficial zone. These superficial-zone cells with weak immunoreactivity for lubricin tended to enter the cartilage gap and possessed higher migratory activity, while the deep-zone chondrocytes remained in the lacuna and exhibited less migratory activity. Among PDGF isoforms, PDGF-AB maximized the degree of chemotactic activity of superficial zone chondrocytes. Increased expression of PDGF receptor-β was associated with higher migratory activity of the superficial-zone chondrocytes.ConclusionsIn enzymatically treated cartilage explant culture, chondrocyte migration and infiltration into the cartilage gap was higher in the superficial zone than in the deep zone. Preferential expression of PDGF receptor-β combined with the PDGF-AB dimeric isoform may explain the increased migratory activity of the superficial-zone chondrocytes. Cells migrating from superficial zone may contribute to cartilage regeneration.

Project description:Transplantation of xenogenic porcine chondrocytes could represent a future strategy for the treatment of human articular cartilage defects. Major obstacles are humoral and cellular rejection processes triggered by xenogenic epitopes like α-1,3-Gal and Neu5Gc. Besides knockout (KO) of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of respective epitopes (GGTA1 and CMAH), transgenic expression of human complement inhibitors and anti-apoptotic as well as anti-inflammatory factors (CD46, CD55, CD59, TNFAIP3 and HMOX1) could synergistically prevent hyperacute xenograft rejection. Therefore, chondrocytes from different strains of single- or multi-genetically modified pigs were characterized concerning their protection from xenogeneic complement activation. Articular chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joints of WT, GalTKO, GalT/CMAH-KO, human CD59/CD55//CD46/TNFAIP3/HMOX1-transgenic (TG), GalTKO/TG and GalT/CMAHKO/TG pigs. The tissue-specific effectiveness of the genetic modifications was tested on gene, protein and epitope expression level or by functional assays. After exposure to 20% and 40% normal human serum (NHS), deposition of C3b/iC3b/C3c and formation of the terminal complement complex (TCC, C5b-9) was quantified by specific cell ELISAs, and generation of the anaphylatoxin C5a by ELISA. Chondrocyte lysis was analyzed by Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay. In all respective KO variants, the absence of α -1,3-Gal and Neu5Gc epitope was verified by FACS analysis. In chondrocytes derived from TG animals, expression of CD55 and CD59 could be confirmed on gene and protein level, TNFAIP3 on gene expression level as well as by functional assays and CD46 only on gene expression level whereas transgenic HMOX1 expression was not evident. Complement activation in the presence of NHS indicated mainly effective although incomplete protection against C3b/iC3b/C3c deposition, C5a-generation and C5b-9 formation being lowest in single GalTKO. Chondrocyte viability under exposure to NHS was significantly improved even by single GalTKO and completely preserved by all other variants including TG chondrocytes without KO of xenoepitopes.

Project description:Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a regenerative procedure used to treat focal articular cartilage defects in knee joints. However, age has been considered as a limiting factor and ACI is not recommended for patients older than 40-50 years of age. One reason for this may be due to the reduced capacity of aged chondrocytes in generating new cartilage. Currently, the underlying mechanism contributing to aging-associated functional decline in chondrocytes is not clear and no proven approach exists to reverse chondrocyte aging. Given that chondrocytes in healthy hyaline cartilage typically display a spherical shape, believed to be essential for chondrocyte phenotype stability, we hypothesize that maintaining aged chondrocytes in a suspension culture that forces the cells to adopt a round morphology may help to "rejuvenate" them to a younger state, thus, leading to enhanced cartilage regeneration. Chondrocytes isolated from aged donors displayed reduced proliferation potential and impaired capacity in generating hyaline cartilage, compared to cells isolated from young donors, indicated by increased hypertrophy and cellular senescence. To test our hypothesis, the "old" chondrocytes were seeded as a suspension onto an agarose-based substratum, where they maintained a round morphology. After the 3-day suspension culture, aged chondrocytes displayed enhanced replicative capacity, compared to those grown adherent to tissue culture plastic. Moreover, chondrocytes subjected to suspension culture formed new cartilage in vitro with higher quality and quantity, with enhanced cartilage matrix deposition, concomitant with lower levels of hypertrophy and cellular senescence markers. Mechanistic analysis suggested the involvement of the RhoA and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in the "rejuvenation" process. In summary, our study presents a robust and straightforward method to enhance the function of aged human chondrocytes, which can be conveniently used to generate a large number of high-quality chondrocytes for ACI application in the elderly.

Project description:IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to progressive destruction of articular cartilage. This study aimed to disclose major mechanisms of antirheumatic drug action on human chondrocytes and to reveal marker and pharmacological target genes that are involved in cartilage dysfunction and regeneration.MethodsAn interactive in vitro cultivation system composed of human chondrocyte alginate cultures and conditioned supernatant of SV40 T-antigen immortalised human synovial fibroblasts was used. Chondrocyte alginate cultures were stimulated with supernatant of RA synovial fibroblasts, of healthy donor synovial fibroblasts, and of RA synovial fibroblasts that have been antirheumatically treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (azathioprine, gold sodium thiomalate, chloroquine phosphate, and methotrexate), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (piroxicam and diclofenac), or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) (methylprednisolone and prednisolone). Chondrocyte gene expression profile was analysed using microarrays. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed for validation of microarray data.ResultsGenome-wide expression analysis revealed 110 RA-related genes in human chondrocytes: expression of catabolic mediators (inflammation, cytokines/chemokines, and matrix degradation) was induced, and expression of anabolic mediators (matrix synthesis and proliferation/differentiation) was repressed. Potential marker genes to define and influence cartilage/chondrocyte integrity and regeneration were determined and include already established genes (COX-2, CXCR-4, IL-1RN, IL-6/8, MMP-10/12, and TLR-2) and novel genes (ADORA2A, BCL2-A1, CTGF, CXCR-7, CYR-61, HSD11B-1, IL-23A, MARCKS, MXRA-5, NDUFA4L2, NR4A3, SMS, STS, TNFAIP-2, and TXNIP). Antirheumatic treatment with SAIDs showed complete and strong reversion of RA-related gene expression in human chondrocytes, whereas treatment with NSAIDs and the DMARD chloroquine phosphate had only moderate to minor effects. Treatment with the DMARDs azathioprine, gold sodium thiomalate, and methotrexate efficiently reverted chondrocyte RA-related gene expression toward the 'healthy' level. Pathways of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, transforming growth factor-beta/Toll-like receptor/Jak-STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) signalling and extracellular matrix receptor interaction were targeted by antirheumatics.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that RA-relevant stimuli result in the molecular activation of catabolic and inflammatory processes in human chondrocytes that are reverted by antirheumatic treatment. Candidate genes that evolved in this study for new therapeutic approaches include suppression of specific immune responses (COX-2, IL-23A, and IL-6) and activation of cartilage regeneration (CTGF and CYR-61).

Dataset Information

Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes: a novel cell source for elastic cartilage regeneration.

Publications

Xiphoid process-derived chondrocytes: a novel cell source for elastic cartilage regeneration.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets