Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There have been no cells that can meet the requirement of tissue engineering for seed cells.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of co-culturing autogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and allogenic chondrocytes.
METHODS: Rabbit chondorcytes were harvested by enzymatic digestion. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were harvested by density gradient centrifugation and adherence methods. Passage 2 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes at a concentration of 3×108/L were randomly divided into three groups. Co-culture group: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were co-cultured with chondrocytes at a ratio of 2: 1. Experimental group: Chondrocytes of the same passage and concentration (concentration the same as the final concentration of co-culture group); control group: 1×108 /L chondrocytes (concentration the same as the final concentration of co-culture group).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The average population doubling time was 3 days in the co-culture group, 7 days in the experimental group, and 8 days in the control group. Cell proliferation was significantly faster in the co-culture group than in the experimental and control groups (P < 0.05). The glycosaminoglycan level was significantly higher in the co-culture group than in the experimental and control groups (P < 0.05). There was no obvious rejection in the co-cultures of autogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and allogenic chondrocytes. This suggests that autogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in cultures can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes and the synthesis of extracellular matrix, shorten culture time of chondrocytes, and reduce passages; at the same time, chondrocytes can promote oriented transformation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells towards chondrocytes, which save a large number of chondrocytes.