Exploring the Chondrocytic Potential of Cranial Neural Crest Cells

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the joint cartilage becomes damaged. Despite the ability of cranial neural crest cells (CNCC) to form cartilage in the embryo, this population of cells has been overlooked when designing cell‐based therapies for osteoarthritis and associated diseases We have begun to explore the potential of CNCC in developing tissues. A LacZ‐encoded replication‐deficient retrovial vector was used to tag explants of CNCC excised from stage 10 chick embryos before injecting into the joint regions of developing limbs of stage 18‐28 embryos. Tagged chondrocytes were subsequently identified in the developing cartilage, particularly in the region of the developing joints. The results appear to demonstrate that cranial neural crest derived cells (CNCDC) retain their ability to give rise to cartilage when implanted into the developing limb and are restricted to particular regions of the limb. The chondrocytic potential of CNCC is now being refined to investigate the integrative properties of these cells in developing and regenerating cartilage. Funded by Brighton & Sussex Medical School.