Effect of passage number of genetically modified TGF-β3 expressing primary chondrocytes on the chondrogenesis of ATDC5 cells in a 3D coculture system

Abstract

Due to the lack of blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics, articular cartilage is difficult to repair once damaged. Tissue engineering is considered to be a potential strategy for cartilage regeneration. Successful tissue engineering strategies depend on the effective combination of biomaterials, seed cells and biological factors. In our previous study, a genetically modified coculture system with chondrocytes and ATDC5 cells in an alginate hydrogel has exhibited a superior ability to enhance chondrogenesis. In this study, we further evaluated the influence of chondrocytes at various passages on chondrogenesis in the coculture system. The results demonstrated that transfection efficiency was hardly influenced by the passage of chondrocytes. The coculture system with passage 5 (P5) chondrocytes had a better effect on chondrogenesis of ATDC 5 cells, while chondrocytes in this coculture system presented higher levels of dedifferentiation than other groups with P1 or P3 chondrocytes. Therefore, P5 chondrocytes were shown to be more suitable for the coculture system, as they accumulated in sufficient cell numbers with more passages and had a higher level of dedifferentiation, which was prone to form a favorable niche for chondrogenesis of ATDC5 cells. This study may provide fresh insights for future cartilage tissue engineering strategies with a combination of a coculture system and advanced biomaterials.

Editorial: Focus issue on biomaterials approaches to the repair and regeneration of cartilage tissue

“…Chen et al found that late passage of chondrocytes (P5) can express TGF-β3 at a high level upon viral vector transfection. ADTC5 cells (mouse teratocarcinomaorigin chondrogenic cells) were effectively promoted to chondrogenic differentiation upon coculture with those genetically modified chondrocytes [7]. Xue et al applied high-throughput RNA sequencing to study the influence of micro-cavity alginate hydrogel on human cartilage chondrocytes [8].…”