SummaryDefects in articular cartilage ultimately result in loss of joint function. Repairing cartilage defects requires cell sources. We developed an approach to generate scaffoldless hyaline cartilage from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We initially generated an hiPSC line that specifically expressed GFP in cartilage when teratoma was formed. We optimized the culture conditions and found BMP2, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and GDF5 critical for GFP expression and thus chondrogenic differentiation of the hiPSCs. The subsequent use of scaffoldless suspension culture contributed to purification, producing homogenous cartilaginous particles. Subcutaneous transplantation of the hiPSC-derived particles generated hyaline cartilage that expressed type II collagen, but not type I collagen, in immunodeficiency mice. Transplantation of the particles into joint surface defects in immunodeficiency rats and immunosuppressed mini-pigs indicated that neocartilage survived and had potential for integration into native cartilage. The immunodeficiency mice and rats suffered from neither tumors nor ectopic tissue formation. The hiPSC-derived cartilaginous particles constitute a viable cell source for regenerating cartilage defects.

Gain-of-function mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3) result in skeletal dysplasias, such as thanatophoric dysplasia and achondroplasia (ACH). The lack of disease models using human cells has hampered the identification of a clinically effective treatment for these diseases. Here we show that statin treatment can rescue patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models and a mouse model of FGFR3 skeletal dysplasia. We converted fibroblasts from thanatophoric dysplasia type I (TD1) and ACH patients into iPSCs. The chondrogenic differentiation of TD1 iPSCs and ACH iPSCs resulted in the formation of degraded cartilage. We found that statins could correct the degraded cartilage in both chondrogenically differentiated TD1 and ACH iPSCs. Treatment of ACH model mice with statin led to a significant recovery of bone growth. These results suggest that statins could represent a medical treatment for infants and children with TD1 and ACH.

Recently, we have identified human cord blood (CB)-derived CD34-negative (CD34 ؊ ) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-repopulating cells (SRCs STEM CELLS 2007;25:1348 -1355 Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising resource for allogeneic cartilage transplantation to treat articular cartilage defects that do not heal spontaneously and often progress to debilitating conditions, such as osteoarthritis. However, to the best of our knowledge, allogeneic cartilage transplantation into primate models has never been assessed. Here, we show that allogeneic iPSC-derived cartilage organoids survive and integrate as well as are remodeled as articular cartilage in a primate model of chondral defects in the knee joints. Histological analysis revealed that allogeneic iPSC-derived cartilage organoids in chondral defects elicited no immune reaction and directly contributed to tissue repair for at least four months. iPSC-derived cartilage organoids integrated with the host native articular cartilage and prevented degeneration of the surrounding cartilage. Single-cell RNA-sequence analysis indicated that iPSC-derived cartilage organoids differentiated after transplantation, acquiring expression of PRG4 crucial for joint lubrication. Pathway analysis suggested the involvement of SIK3 inactivation. Our study outcomes suggest that allogeneic transplantation of iPSC-derived cartilage organoids may be clinically applicable for the treatment of patients with chondral defects of the articular cartilage; however further assessment of functional recovery long term after load bearing injuries is required.

Type II collagen is a major component of cartilage. Heterozygous mutations in the type II collagen gene (COL2A1) result in a group of skeletal dysplasias known as Type II collagenopathy (COL2pathy). The understanding of COL2pathy is limited by difficulties in obtaining live chondrocytes. In the present study, we converted COL2pathy patients' fibroblasts directly into induced chondrogenic (iChon) cells. The COL2pathy-iChon cells showed suppressed expression of COL2A1 and significant apoptosis. A distended endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was detected, thus suggesting the adaptation of gene expression and cell death caused by excess ER stress. Chondrogenic supplementation adversely affected the chondrogenesis due to forced elevation of COL2A1 expression, suggesting that the application of chondrogenic drugs would worsen the disease condition. The application of a chemical chaperone increased the secretion of type II collagen, and partially rescued COL2pathy-iChon cells from apoptosis, suggesting that molecular chaperons serve as therapeutic drug candidates. We next generated induced pluripotent stem cells from COL2pathy fibroblasts. Chondrogenically differentiated COL2pathy-iPS cells showed apoptosis and increased expression of ER stress-markers. Finally, we generated teratomas by transplanting COL2pathy iPS cells into immunodeficient mice. The cartilage in the teratomas showed accumulation of type II collagen within cells, a distended ER, and sparse matrix, recapitulating the patient's cartilage. These COL2pathy models will be useful for pathophysiological studies and drug screening.