CD146 as a new marker for an increased chondroprogenitor cell sub‐population in the later stages of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Cartilage-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated with different methods. In this study lateral and medial femoral condyles were respectively collected from patients with late-stage osteoarthritis during the total knee arthroplasty. After digestion of the cartilage tissues with type II collagenase and analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with CD146, a chondroprogenitor cell sub-population were isolated and purified. The expression of other MSC-associated markers in the CD146 þ chondroprogenitors was analyzed by flow cytometry. Multi-lineage differentiation capacity of CD146 þ chondroprogenitors was compared with that of unsorted chondrocytes and adipose-derived MSCs (ADMSCs). Higher percentage of CD146 þ chondroprogenitors isolated from the medial femoral condyles was observed than that from the lateral. CD146 þ chondroprogenitors expressed high levels of MSC-specific surface antigens, and showed higher chondrogenesis capacity than ADMSCs and unsorted chondrocytes in a 3D cell pellet culture model. Thus CD146 might be a new cell surface marker for cartilage progenitor cell population in the late-stage osteoarthritis.

Focal Defects of the Knee Articular Surface: Evidence of a Regenerative Potential Pattern in Osteochondritis Dissecans and Degenerative Lesions

“…Interestingly, we found MSCs in the focal lesions of both OCD and DL cartilage. It is known that healthy cartilage is negative to the CD146 marker [15] which, on the other hand, is expressed in a chondrocytes subpopulation in the later stage of OA [18]. However, the percentage of CD146 cells in both focal lesions of DL and OCD did not increase compared to the histological score, in contrast to data found in late stage OA chondrocytes [18].…”

Perivascular Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sheep: Characterization and Autologous Transplantation in a Model of Articular Cartilage Repair

“…CD146 has also been indicated as a marker for a sub-population of chondroprogenitor cells in osteoarthritis [34] and CD146+ cells have demonstrated increased therapeutic potential compared to CD146-cells in a model of murine arthritis [35]. Other authors have investigated the use of different markers including Grem1+ and LepR+ cells [36,37].…”

Potential benefits and limitations of utilizing chondroprogenitors in cell-based cartilage therapy

“…They have been reported to highly express the hyaluronate receptor (CD44), fibronectin receptor (CD49e), thymocyte antigen-1 (CD90), the type I membrane glycoprotein endoglin (CD105) and activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM or CD166) (7,35,36). A recent study also reported a correlation between the chondrogenic potential of progenitor cells with the expression of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM or CD146) (10). Unlike chondroprogenitors, a large percentage of articular chondrocytes do not exhibit cell surface expression of CD49e, CD90, CD105 or CD166 (37) making these markers ideal for discerning these two cell populations.…”

“…Due to the previous lack of knowledge detailing the specific differences between chondrocytes and chondroprogenitors, it often became commonplace to use interchangeable terminology to describe these two distinct cell populations. However, many recent studies have presented compelling evidence suggesting that several cell surface markers can be utilized to distinguish chondroprogenitors from primary chondrocytes (7–10). In this review, we will summate the current body of knowledge that has come to define the chondroprogenitor cell subpopulation and discuss its potential importance to cell-based cartilage therapy.…”

“…Several important past studies have demonstrated that a progenitor-like cell population, known today as chondroprogenitor cells, still exists in adult hyaline cartilage tissue (2,7). What is more surprising are the reports that even OA cartilage from older individuals can harbor chondroprogenitors (5,10). …”