Effect of Amniotic Membrane/Collagen-Based Scaffolds on the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Cartilage Repair

Abstract

Objectives: Repairing articular cartilage damage is challenging. Clinically, tissue engineering technology is used to induce stem cell differentiation and proliferation on biological scaffolds to repair defective joints. However, no ideal biological scaffolds have been identified. This study investigated the effects of amniotic membrane/collagen scaffolds on the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and articular cartilage repair.Methods: Adipose tissue of New Zealand rabbits was excised, and ADSCs were isolated and induced for differentiation. An articular cartilage defect model was constructed to identify the effect of amniotic membrane/collagen scaffolds on cartilage repair. Cartilage formation was analyzed by imaging and toluene blue staining. Knee joint recovery in rabbits was examined using hematoxylin and eosin, toluidine, safranine, and immunohistochemistry at 12 weeks post-operation. Gene expression was examined using ELISA, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence.Results: The adipose tissue was effectively differentiated into ADSCs, which further differentiated into chondrogenic, osteogenic, and lipogenic lineages after 3 weeks’ culture in vitro. Compared with platelet-rich plasmon (PRP) scaffolds, the amniotic membrane scaffolds better promoted the growth and differentiation of ADSCs. Additionally, scaffolds containing the PRP and amniotic membrane efficiently enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. The levels of COL1A1, COL2A1, COL10A1, SOX9, and ACAN in ADSCs + amniotic membrane + PRP group were significantly higher than the other groups both in vitro and in vivo. The Wakitani scores of the ADSC + amniotic membrane + PRP group were lower than that in ADSC + PRP (4.4 ± 0.44**), ADSC + amniotic membrane (2.63 ± 0.38**), and control groups (6.733 ± 0.21) at week 12 post-operation. Osteogenesis in rabbits of the ADSC + amniotic membrane + PRP group was significantly upregulated when compared with other groups. Amniotic membranes significantly promoted the expression of cartilage regeneration-related factors (SOX6, SOX9, RUNX2, NKX3-2, MEF2C, and GATA4). The ADSC + PRP + amniotic membrane group exhibited the highest levels of TGF-β, PDGF, and FGF while exhibiting the lowest level of IL-1β, IL6, and TNF-α in articular cavity.Conclusion: Amniotic membrane/collagen combination-based scaffolds promoted the proliferation and cartilage differentiation of ADSCs, and may provide a new treatment paradigm for patients with cartilage injury.

The Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Animal Models of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…As a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole restrains the conversion of androgen to estrogen, leading to androgen accumulation and ultimately recapitulating both reproductive and metabolic PCOS phenotypes in rats and mice [ 41 , 42 ]. The PCOS models induced by testosterone propionate were characterized by high blood free testosterone level, low LH and FSH values, which can last for a long time [ 43 , 44 ]. As another androgen induction method, DHEA and prasterone sulfate sodium require shorter modeling time than testosterone propionate and are closer to the pathogenesis of PCOS [ 45 , 46 ].…”

“…e PCOS models induced by testosterone propionate were characterized by high blood free testosterone level, low LH and FSH values, which can last for a long time [43,44]. As another androgen induction method, DHEA and prasterone sulfate sodium require shorter modeling time than testosterone propionate and are closer to the pathogenesis of PCOS [45,46].…”

Delivery of Mesenchymal Stem Cell in Dialdehyde Methylcellulose-Succinyl-Chitosan Hydrogel Promotes Chondrogenesis in a Porcine Model

“…Hematoxylin was performed by incubating rehydrated sections for 2 min followed by 3 rinses with deionized water. The score published by modified O’Driscoll score [ 28 ] and Wakitani score [ 29 ] were used for sections evaluation of both knees.…”

Regeneration of articular cartilage defects: Therapeutic strategies and perspectives

“…The rapid development of cartilage tissue engineering technology (TET) provides a new and highly viable mentality for AC defect repair, including OA, which has been developing since the 1980s and with the process of combining the obtained seed cells with biomaterials and bioactive factors to induce stem cell differentiation and proliferation to cultivate a biomimetic functional tissue, and then transplanting it into the defected section to perform its repair function. 56 , 57 It was first applied to AC construction, which is easy to study without interference benefit by its simple structure. 58 – 60 …”

“…The rapid development of cartilage tissue engineering technology (TET) provides a new and highly viable mentality for AC defect repair, including OA, which has been developing since the 1980s and with the process of combining the obtained seed cells with biomaterials and bioactive factors to induce stem cell differentiation and proliferation to cultivate a biomimetic functional tissue, and then transplanting it into the defected section to perform its repair function. 56,57 It was first applied to AC construction, which is easy to study without interference benefit by its simple structure. [58][59][60] The landmark study of cartilage TET was that of Vacanti et al 61 who successfully constructed hyaluronic tissues with well properties in nude mice by using bovine articular chondrocytes (ACs) and biodegradable macromolecular scaffold in 1991; their work provided a new approach for tissue creation using synthetic biocompatible and biodegradable polymers as templates onto which cells are seeded is presented.…”