Abstract
Introduction: Autologous chondrocytes harvested from articular cartilage are being used for the repair of focal cartilage defects. The procedure involves injury to the cartilage and alternative sources of stem cells for use in repair are being explored. Stem cells have been found in many tissue including bone marrow and the infrapa-tellar fat pad. Infrapatellar fat pad derived stem cells present a viable and easily accessible source of stem cells for the repair of cartilage defects and tissue engineering applications.
Hypoxia has been shown to improve chondrogenesis in stem cells derived from the bone marrow. We explore the hypothesis that this effect would also apply to stem cells derived from the infrapatellar fat pad.
Materials and methods: Cell aggregates from early passage stem cells isolated from the infrapatellar fat pad were placed in chondrogenic media for 14 days either in a normoxic (20% oxygen) or hypoxic (5% oxygen) environment. Gene expression analysis, DNA and glycosoaminoglycan assays and immunohistochemi-cal studies were performed on the aggregates to assess chondrogenesis.
Results: Cells grown under hypoxic conditions showed significantly improved chondrogenesis as determined by relatively higher gene expression of proteoglycans, collagens and SOX genes. The cell aggregates also had a higher glycosoaminoglycan content and glycosoamino-glycan content per DNA. Immunohistochemical studies confirm enhanced production of collagen types I and II and aggrecan.
Discussion: These findings confirm the previously documented effects of hypoxic culture conditions on stem cells and extend the findings to include infrapatellar fat pad derived stem cells. Our findings suggest that oxygen tension has a role in regulating the function of stem cells as they undergo chondrogenesis. In culture these cells appear to function optimally in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen that more closely approximates documented in vivo oxygen tension. This has important implications in future tissue engineering applications of these cells.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Carlos Wigderowitz, Senior Lecturer, University Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY.
