Effect of Growth Factors on Cell Proliferation by Human Nasal Septal Chondrocytes Cultured in Monolayer

Abstract

In the field of reconstructive surgery, autologous cartilage grafting is commonly performed to reconstruct skeletal defects. Because of the limited supply of fresh autologous cartilage many investigators concentrate on in vitro production of cartilage tissue. Several growth factors regulate the metabolism and activation of cartilage cells. In order to enhance the culture conditions for cartilage cells, the aim of our investigations was to characterize the influence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of differentiated human nasal septal chondrocytes. The isolated cells were cultured in monolayer using DMEM with and without 10% FCS. The cell proliferation was assessed using tritiated thymidine. We measured an increase of the proliferation rates when the different growth factors were added. The most important stimulatory effect was due to bFGF and the less to EGF. If all growth factors were added together a fivefold increase in the proliferative activity of the cells was achieved. The effects were further enhanced by factors present in fetal calf serum. We conclude that the culture conditions for cell expansion for cartilage engineering can be optimized employing growth factors.

Effect of growth factors on matrix synthesis by human nasal chondrocytes cultured in monolayer and in agar

“…Although bFGF does not seem to have a known function in the regulation of skeletal growth, it is known to be mitogenic for many cell types [7] including chondrocytes [15]. We recently described the mitogenic effect of bFGF on chondrocyte proliferation [2]. The absence of an effect of bFGF on matrix synthesis of cultured chondrocytes supports prior findings [20,26].…”

“…In a separate publication, we showed that bFGF is able to increase the chondrocyte proliferation in monolayer cultures as the first step of cartilage engineering [2]. We have now demonstrated that TGF-beta is a very suitable candidate for promoting matrix synthesis of chondrocytes cultured in a three-dimensional way.…”

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Insulinlike Growth Factor I Support the Growth of Human Septal Chondrocytes in a Serum-Free Environment

“…Our data corroborate with the findings of Bujia et al 5 that the mitogenic actions of growth factors are further enhanced in the presence of FCS. The final cell counts from the growth factor-enhanced 10% FCS medium were Figure 1.…”

“…Bujia et al 5 tested the impact of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor ␤ (TGF-␤), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the cellular proliferation of human septal chondrocytes and found that bFGF was the most potent mitogen of the 3. In 1993, however, Quatela et al 6 reported that although hu- man auricular chondrocyte mitogenesis increased in the presence of bFGF and TGF-␤, septal chondrocytes did not display increased proliferation in the presence of either bFGF or TGF-␤.…”

Engineering Autogenous Cartilage in the Shape of a Helix Using an Injectable Hydrogel Scaffold

“…Growth factors have been used successfully to increase the volume of chondrocytes (Arevalo et al, Paper presented at the Second Bi‐annual Meeting of the Tissue Engineering Society, Orlando, Florida, December 1998). 16–17 …”