Combination of transforming growth factor-beta2 and bone morphogenetic protein 7 enhances chondrogenesis from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

In this study, the authors examined combinations of growth factors that induce effective chondrogenesis from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Human MSCs were isolated from bone marrow (BMMSCs) and adipose tissue (ATMSCs) and characterized according to flow cytometry for CD34, CD45, CD73, and CD166. Chondrogenesis was induced by culturing ATMSCs in pellets without growth factors (negative control) and with 5 ng/mL of transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-beta(2)), 100 ng/mL of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, 100 ng/mL of BMP-6, 100 ng/mL of BMP-7, 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta(2) and 100 ng/mL of BMP-2, 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta(2) and 100 ng/mL of BMP-6, and 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta(2) and 100 ng/mL of BMP-7. BMMSCs cultured under the same condition with 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta(2) were used as positive controls. Flow cytometry showed that ATMSCs and BMMSCs had similar surface marker profiles. After 4 weeks of in vitro culture, glycosaminoglycan assays, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and histological findings demonstrated that the combination of 5 ng/mL of TGF-beta(2) and 100 ng/mL of BMP-7 most effectively induced chondrogenesis from ATMSCs. The findings of this study suggest that the combination of TGF-beta(2) and BMP-7 potently enhances chondrogenesis from ATMSCs and can be used to overcome the inferior chondrogenic potential of ATMSCs in cartilage tissue engineering.