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BTU
Differentiation of human chondrocytes under the influence of microalgae-based exopolysaccharides
(2019)
BACKGROUND: Exopolysaccharides are formed by microalgae in response to adverse conditions and are found mainly as a coating around the cells. The protective function of EPS plays an important role in the survival of microalgae in polluted habitats. So far, the particular biological and physico-chemical properties of EPS have not been adequately investigated and their effect on cells such as human chondrocytes has not been tested. Microalgae in particular offer an ideal platform for the production of dietary supplements or drugs that enable new therapeutic approaches.
METHODS: To investigate the influence of EPS on human chondrocytes, cytotoxicity and differentiation potential were analyzed in 3D cultures.
RESULTS: We were able to demonstrate a positive, but donor-specific influence of EPS on the differentiation of human chondrocytes. Furthermore, the EPS showed no cytotoxic effects in a range of up to 250 µg EPS per ml medium.
CONCLUSION: EPS have the potential to positively influence the differentiation of human chondrocytes. Further experiments are necessary to analyze the donor-specific effect.
BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering has become a major field of research in biotechnology and biomedicine. As a consequence, cell-based therapeutic approaches are entering the hospitals, especially for skeletal regeneration. Traumatic injuries of cartilage are treated with autologous cell suspensions or in vitro generated cartilage tissues, but there is actually no therapy available for degenerative cartilage defects. However, Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major public health problem in the world affecting 240 million people globally.
OBJECTIVE: To develop suitable in vitro tissues, the properties of chondrogenic spheroids should be optimized via coculture with cells naturally occurring as joint neighbours.
METHODS: Human chondrocytes were isolated from condyles and propagated in monolayer culture. Scaffold-free spheroids were generated and co-cultured with joint-specific partner cells (osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells, fibroblasts). Morphology and differentiation was analyzed using histochemistry (Alcian blue, Safranin O) and immunohistochemistry for cartilage markers (collagen type II, Sox9, proteoglycan), proliferation-associated protein (Ki67) and markers of connective tissue (collagen type I and actin).
RESULTS: The provision of a more natural microenvironment in vitro via co-culture of chondrocyte-based aggregates with osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells enhanced the differentiation potential of chondrogenic spheroids towards hyaline cartilage.
CONCLUSIONS: The study showed the positive influence of Saos-2 cells on the differentiation potential of human chondrocytes in co-culture.