Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract

The goal of tissue engineering is to create a functional replacement for tissues damaged by injury or disease. In many cases, impaired tissues cannot provide viable cells, leading to the investigation of stem cells as a possible alternative. Cartilage, in particular, may benefit from the use of stem cells since the tissue has low cellularity and cannot effectively repair itself. To address this need, researchers are investigating the chondrogenic capabilities of several multipotent stem cell sources, including adult and extra-embryonic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Comparative studies indicate that each cell type has advantages and disadvantages, and while direct comparisons are difficult to make, published data suggest some sources may be more promising for cartilage regeneration than others. In this review, we identify current approaches for isolating and chondrogenically differentiating MSCs from bone marrow, fat, synovium, muscle, and peripheral blood, as well as cells from extra-embyronic tissues, ESCs, and iPSCs. Additionally, we assess chondrogenic induction with growth factors, identifying standard cocktails used for each stem cell type. Cell-only (pellet) and scaffold-based studies are also included, as is a discussion of in vivo results.

Single Cell Imaging to Probe Mesenchymal Stem Cell N-Cadherin Mediated Signaling within Hydrogels

“…Additionally, it is well understood that MSC cultures are innately heterogeneous and variant cell behavior and differentiation potential can be observed across cells within the same cultures. 3,24 For instance, after 7 days in culture, bovine MSCs photoencapsulated in hydrogels supplemented with chondrogenic induction media displayed variable proteoglycan production, indicating that some cells are more efficient at secreting matrix than others under identical microenvironments. 8,12 Again, imaging techniques are needed to understand cell signaling in the context of MSC heterogeneity within hydrogels.…”

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Can Preconditioning Strategies Improve Therapeutic Efficacy

“…Interestingly, BM-MSCs showed variable osteogenic differentiation potential depending on the harvest technique (reamer/irrigator/aspirator, spoon, fine-needle aspiration) and the anatomical localizations (femur, iliac crest) [45]. Amongst postnatal sources, BM-MSCs appear highly applicable for regeneration of cartilage defects featuring acceptable graft integration and biological similarities to cartilage tissue [46]. Comparing MSCs only from fetal sources, UCB-MSCs showed greater chondrogenic differentiation capacity than MSCs from amniotic fluid [47].…”

The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Glycosaminoglycans in Tissue Engineering Applications

“…The best stem cell source for cartilage TE is yet to be identified, with MSCs, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), all being considered due to their individual strengths and weaknesses (as reviewed [66]). Ease of isolation, differentiation potential, surface marker expression and cost are just some of the factors that must be considered.…”