Nasal chondrocytes as a neural crest-derived cell source for regenerative medicine

Abstract

Cells deriving from neural crest are generally acknowledged during embryonic development for their multipotency and plasticity, accounting for their capacity to generate various cell and tissue types even across germ layers. At least partial preservation of some of these properties in adulthood makes neural crest derived cells of large interest for regenerative purposes. Chondrocytes from fully mature nasal septum cartilage in adults are also derivatives of neural crest cells and were recently demonstrated to be able not only to maintain functionality across serial cloning, as surrogate self-renewal test, but also to respond and adapt to heterotopic transplantation sites. Based on these findings, cartilage grafts engineered by nasal chondrocytes were clinically used to reconstitute the nasal alar lobule and to repair articular cartilage defects. This article discusses further perspectives of potential clinical utility for nasal chondrocytes in musculoskeletal regeneration. It then highlights the need to derive deeper understanding of their biological properties in order to inform on possible therapeutic modes of action. This acquired knowledge will help to optimise manufacturing conditions to guarantee defined functional traits associated with safety and therapeutic potency of nasal chondrocytes in regenerative medicine.

A comparative study of cartilage engineered constructs in immunocompromised, humanized and immunocompetent mice

“…Although it remains unclear whether the same cells would make durable cartilage tissue when implanted into a cartilage-inducing/maintaining environment, such as an articular cartilage defect, ex-vivo studies showed promising results [22]. Moreover, there are differences for the two investigated cell types as they have different origins during embryonic development [44]. While articular chondrocytes develop from the mesoderm, auricular chondrocytes originate from the neural crest.…”

Regeneration – eine neue therapeutische Dimension in der Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde

“…Nasal chondrocytes derive from the neural crest 46 . Different investigations demonstrated that nasal chondrocytes are also able to display their effect, in particular, the synthesis of extracellular cartilage matrix, in other locations and are thus suitable as a possible cell source for transplantation 46 47 . A clinical phase I study 45 has already been conducted that confirmed these findings also in the clinical practice.…”

“…Es konnte in verschiedenen Untersuchungen gezeigt werden, dass nasale Chondrozyten auch an anderer Lokalisation wie z. B. dem Kniegelenk in der Lage sind ihre Wirkung, d. h. insbesondere die Synthese extrazellulärer Knorpelmatrix zu entfalten und somit als mögliche Zellquelle für die Transplantation geeignet sind 46 47 . Es wurde bereits eine klinische Phase I Studie 45 durchgeführt, die diese Erkenntnisse auch in der Klinik bestätigt.…”

Neural Crest-Derived Chondrocytes Isolation for Tissue Engineering in Regenerative Medicine

“…They derive from the neural crest, and have been recently shown to be able to respond and adapt to heterotopic transplantation sites. In particular, chondrocytes from the nasal septum have shown improved reproducibility in generating hyaline-like cartilage tissues, with superior plasticity to adapt to a joint environment, resulting in improved tissue regeneration and repair [8][9][10].…”