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Abstract: Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) has been established to contribute cartilage regeneration over the past years; however, many obstacles need to be overcome. Recently, newer ACT technique involves cotransplantation of chondrocytes and biomaterial. Although various proposed intelligent biomaterials exist, many of them remain insufficient and controversial. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) to the proliferation rate and differentiation on the chondrocytes. We first derived a natural ECM sheet from 10-μm-thick frozen sections of porcine knee cartilages. We then cultured the chondrocytes derived from a rabbit's knee on a dish precoated with the natural ECM. Then we assessed differentiation and chondrogenic potential of the cells compared with those grown in untreated culture dishes. We characterized the gene expression of chondrogenic markers, such as collagen type II, SOX-9, and aggrecan, as well as the level of ECM protein with the use of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. The cells cultured with the ECM sheet showed highest chondrogenic potential and differentiation. Therefore, we can induce good chondrogenesis by with the use of a natural ECM sheet on the culture dish. The readily available and easy-to-handle thin ECM sheets create an environment that promotes efficient cartilage regeneration. Our data suggest that this natural ECM scaffold improved the chondrogenic differentiation of the cells in vitro by providing a favorable microenvironment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal elements that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. MSCs are good sources of therapeutic cells for degenerative diseases. For these reason, many researchers have focused on searching for other sources of MSCs. To obtain MSCs for clinical use requires surgery of the donor that therefore can induce donor morbidity, since the common sources at present are bone marrow and adipose tissues. In this study, we investigated the existence of MSCs in postoperative discarded tissues. Subacromial bursal tissues were obtained from the shoulders of 3 injured patients. The cells from the bursa tissues were isolated through treatment with collagenase. The isolated cells were then seeded and expanded by serial passaging under normal culture system. To evaluate MSC characteristics of the cells, their MSC markers were confirmed by mRNA and protein expression. Multipotent ability was assessed using differentiation media and immunohistochemistry. Cells from the bursa expressed MSCs markers—CD29, CD73, CD90, and PDGFRB (platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta). Moreover, as to their multipotency, bursal cells differentiated into adipocytes (fat cells), osteocytes (bone cells), and chondrocytes (cartilage cells). In summary, we showed that MSCs could be generated from the subacromial bursa, which is medical waste after surgery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]