Induced Pluripotent and Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Promising Tool for Articular Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract

The application of stem cells in regenerative medicine has recently become a rapidly growing field, holding promise for combating a number of orthopedic disorders including osteodegenerative ones (osteoporosis and osteoarthritis). Although the differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes is now intensively investigated on a laboratory scale, implementing the laboratory protocols in clinical practice requires a scale-up culture. In order to apply this technique many aspects of stem cell bioprocessing such as optimal culture conditions for anchoragedependent or anchorage-independent cells and the type of culture must be taken into account. The presence of microcarriers and/or scaffolds for adherent cells is essential, since they provide a three-dimensional microenvironment indispensable for cell growth. For treatment of osteoarthritis, induced pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells seem to be the best choice. Although, the scale-up culture using stem cells has been intensively investigated on a laboratory scale, the scale-up culture for clinical application still requires further technical improvements.In this review stem cell bioprocessing including the use of biomaterials, bioreactors, and factors affecting this process, as well as scale-up culture of induced Pluripotent and mesenchymal stem cells were presented and discussed.

Gene expression profile in human induced pluripotent stem cells: Chondrogenic differentiation in vitro, part B

“…The present study has two main aims: To determine the gene expression profile of chondrogenic-like cells derived from hiPSCs cultured in medium conditioned with HC-402-05a cells or supplemented with transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3), and to determine the relative value of the most commonly used chondrogenic markers as indicators of cell differentiation. The cells were differentiated in chondrogenic mediums supplemented with either TGF-β3, the member of the TGF-β superfamily with the most chondrogenic potential ( 13 ) or conditioned with growth factors from the human primary chondrocyte cell line (HC-402-05a). The gene expression profiles of the chondrogenic-like cells derived from the hiPSCs cultured in the TGF-β-supplemented medium (TGF-β3 medium) was then assessed and compared with the cells cultured in the HC-402-05a-conditioned medium (conditioned medium).…”

Bioimaging: An Useful Tool to Monitor Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Chondrocytes

“…Pluripotent stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are undergoing intensive investigation as potential candidates for the treatment of numerous degenerative diseases. 17 , 55 Because chondrocytes develop from the mesoderm, MSCs are likely to be a suitable cell source for cartilage regeneration. However, obtaining MSCs requires an invasive bone marrow biopsy.…”

“…Minor modifications of the protocols are now required to obtain large homogenous cell populations without increasing costs of potential therapy. 8 , 43 , 51 , 55 …”