Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor β，a polypeptide growth factor, can induce original mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into cartilage tissue during embryogenesis phase. Previous studies have reported that transforming growth factor β3 and basic fibroblast growth factor can contribute to metabolism and proliferation of chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into chondrocyte lineage by transforming growth factor β3 in vitro.
METHODS: Bone marrow was collected from cancellous bone chips during hip joint surgery or during lower limb bones open operation to isolate and culture BMSCs. Its surface antigen was identified. Conditioned medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 10 μg/L transforming growth factor β3 was used. Following induction, cells were stained using toluidine blue staining and type II collagen immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BMSCs were positive for CD73, CD90, CD105, but negative for CD14, CD34, CD45, CD106 and HLA-DR. The morphology of induced cells was obviously changed. The results of toluidine blue staining and type II collagen staining were positive. These indicated that transforming growth factor β3 has the ability to promote BMSCs differentiation into chondrocytes. BMSCs may prove to be a useful source of tissue engineered seed cells.