IntroductionThe capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) to be induced into chondrocytes has drawn much attention for cell-based cartilage repair. BMSCs represent a small proportion of cells of the bone marrow stromal compartment and, thus, culture expansion is a necessity for therapeutic use. However, there is no consensus on how BMSCs should be isolated nor expanded to maximize their chondrogenic potential. During embryonic development pluripotent stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes and form cartilage in a hypoxic microenvironment.MethodsFreshly harvested human BMSCs were isolated and expanded from the aspirates of six donors, under either hypoxic conditions (3% O2) or normoxic conditions (21% O2). A colony-forming unit fibroblastic (Cfu-f) assay was used to determine the number of cell colonies developed from each donor. BMSCs at passage 2 (P2) were characterized by flow cytometry for the phenotypic expression of cell surface markers on mesenchymal stem cells. BMSCs at P2 were subsequently cultured in vitro as three-dimensional cell pellets in a defined serum-free chondrogenic medium under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Chondrogenic differentiation of the BMSCs was characterized by biochemical and histological methods and by quantitative gene-expression analysis.ResultsAfter 14 days of culture, the number of BMSC colonies developed under hypoxia was generally higher (8% to 38% depending on donor) than under normoxia. BMSCs were positive for the cell surface markers CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD151, and negative for CD34. Regardless of the oxygen tension during pellet culture, hypoxia-expanded BMSC pellets underwent a more robust chondrogenesis than normoxia-expanded BMSC pellets after three weeks of culture, as judged by increased glycosaminoglycan synthesis and Safranin O staining, along with increased mRNA expression of aggrecan, collagen II and Sox9. Hypoxic conditions enhanced the mRNA expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) but suppressed the mRNA expression of collagen X in BMSC pellet cultures regardless of the oxygen tension during BMSC isolation and propagation.ConclusionsTaken together, our data demonstrate that isolation and expansion of BMSCs under hypoxic conditions augments the chondrogenic potential of BMSCs. This suggests that hypoxia-mediated isolation and expansion of BMSCs may improve clinical applications of BMSCs for cartilage repair.

IntroductionThe quality of cartilaginous tissue derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation has been correlated with clinical outcome. Therefore, culture conditions capable of modulating tissue phenotype, such as oxygen tension and scaffold composition, are under investigation. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of hypoxia on in vitro BMSC chondrogenesis within clinically approved porous scaffolds composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA). It was hypothesized that hypoxic isolation/expansion and differentiation would improve BMSC chondrogenesis in each construct.MethodsOvine BMSCs were isolated and expanded to passage 2 under hypoxia (3% oxygen) or normoxia (21% oxygen). Cell proliferation and colony-forming characteristics were assessed. BMSCs were seeded at 10 million cells per cubic centimeter on cylindrical scaffolds composed of either collagen I sponge or esterified HA non-woven mesh. Chondrogenic differentiation was performed in a defined medium under hypoxia or normoxia for 14 days. Cultured constructs were assessed for gene expression, proteoglycan staining, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantity, and diameter change.ResultsIsolation/expansion under hypoxia resulted in faster BMSC population doublings per day (P <0.05), whereas cell and colony counts were not significantly different (P = 0.60 and 0.30, respectively). Collagen and HA scaffolds seeded with BMSCs that were isolated, expanded, and differentiated under hypoxia exhibited superior aggrecan and collagen II mRNA expressions (P <0.05), GAG quantity (P <0.05), and proteoglycan staining in comparison with normoxia. GAG/DNA was augmented with hypoxic isolation/expansion in all constructs (P <0.01). Comparison by scaffold composition indicated increased mRNA expressions of hyaline cartilage-associated collagen II, aggrecan, and SOX9 in collagen scaffolds, although expression of collagen X, which is related to hypertrophic cartilage, was also elevated (P <0.05). Proteoglycan deposition was not significantly improved in collagen scaffolds unless culture involved normoxic isolation/expansion followed by hypoxic differentiation. During chondrogenesis, collagen-based constructs progressively contracted to 60.1% ± 8.9% of the initial diameter after 14 days, whereas HA-based construct size was maintained (109.7% ± 4.2%).ConclusionsHypoxic isolation/expansion and differentiation enhance in vitro BMSC chondrogenesis within porous scaffolds. Although both collagen I and HA scaffolds support the creation of hyaline-like cartilaginous tissue, variations in gene expression, extracellular matrix formation, and construct size occur during chondrogenesis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-015-0075-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Meniscus fibrochondrocytes (MFCs) may be the optimal cell source to repair non-healing meniscus injuries using tissue engineering strategies. In this study, we investigated the effects of mitotic divisions and oxygen tension on the plasticity of adult human MFCs. Our assessment techniques included gene expression, biochemical, histological, and immunofluorescence assays. MFCs were expanded in monolayer culture with combined growth factors TGFβ1 and FGF-2 (T1F2) under normoxia (21% O2). Trilineage (adipogenesis, chondrogenesis and osteogenesis) differentiation was performed under both normoxic (21% O2) and hypoxic (3% O2) conditions. The data demonstrated that MFCs with a mean total population doubling of 10 can undergo adipogenesis and chondrogenesis. This capability was enhanced under hypoxic conditions. The MFCs did not undergo osteogenesis. In conclusion, our findings suggest that extensively expanded human MFCs have the capacity to generate tissues with the functional matrix characteristics of avascular meniscus. To this end, expanded MFCs may be an ideal cell source for engineering functional constructs for the replacement or repair of avascular meniscus.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and proangiogenic properties and, therefore, have the potential to improve islet engraftment and survival. We assessed the effect human bone marrow-derived MSCs have on neonatal porcine islets (NPIs) in vitro and determined islet engraftment and metabolic outcomes when cotransplanted in a mouse model. NPIs cocultured with MSCs had greater cellular insulin content and increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. NPIs were cotransplanted with or without MSCs in diabetic B6.129S7-Rag1/J mice. Blood glucose and weight were monitored until reversal of diabetes; mice were then given an oral glucose tolerance test. Islet grafts were assessed for the degree of vascularization and total cellular insulin content. Cotransplantation of NPIs and MSCs resulted in significantly earlier normoglycemia and vascularization, improved glucose tolerance, and increased insulin content. One experiment conducted with MSCs from a donor with an autoimmune disorder had no positive effects on transplant outcomes. Cotransplantation of human MSCs with NPIs demonstrated a beneficial metabolic effect likely as a result of earlier islet vascularization and improved islet engraftment. In addition, donor pathology of MSCs can influence the functional capacity of MSCs.

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