Effects of Cartilage Progenitor Cells, Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Chondrocytes on Cartilage Repair as Seed Cells: An in vitro Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of cartilage progenitor cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes on cartilage repair as seed cells. METHODS: Porcine cartilage progenitor cells (CPCs), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and chondrocytes (CCs) were obtained from the femoropatellar joints of young pigs, and seeded in agarose gel as a graft. During the 28-day culture, proliferation ability was measured by MTT assay, and gene expression of Collagen I, Collagen II, Aggrecan and SOX 9 were measured by qPCR. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of collagen, glycosaminoglycan and DNA were appraised by immunohistochemical staining and biochemical assay, and integration strength was analyzed by push-out tests. RESULTS: After 28-day culture, proliferation ability of CPCs and BMSCs was higher than CCs. Collagen, glycosaminoglycan, DNA content and chondrocyte-related genes expression in the cartilage progenitor cells seeded gel were significantly higher than the other two gels. Integration strength in the cartilage progenitor cells seeded gel was also higher compared with the other two gels. CONCLUSION: Compared with CCs and BMSCs, CPCs in vitro have dominance in the ability of cell proliferation and differentiation as seed cells in tissue engineering.