BACKGROUND Dedifferentiation of chondrocytes remains a major problem for cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocytes loss differentiated phenotype in in vitro culture that is undesired for repair strategies. The chondrocyte is surrounded by a pericellular matrix (PCM), together forming the chondron. PCM has a positive effect on the maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype during culture in compariso...

Mechanical stimulation has been proposed to induce chondrogenesis in cell-seeded scaffolds. However, the effects of mechanical stimuli on engineered cartilage may vary substantially between different scaffolds. This advocates for the need to identify an overarching mechanobiological variable. We hypothesize that energy dissipation of scaffolds subjected to dynamic loading may be used as a mecha...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the stimulation of osteoinduced mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into chondrogenically predifferentiated MSCs and chondrocytes in a mechanical environment. A novel two‑layer microfluidic chip was used to mimic the interstitial flow in the superficial zones of articular cartilage. The morphology, proliferation rate and the expression of collagen I, co...

Articular cartilage defects are considered a major health problem because articular cartilage has a limited capacity for self-regeneration (1). Untreated cartilage lesions lead to ongoing pain, negatively affect the quality of life and predispose for osteoarthritis. During the last decades, several surgical techniques have been developed to treat such lesions. However, until now it was not poss...

The cartilage of joints is long‐lasting (i.e., permanent) cartilage and is not spontane‐ ously repaired after injury in humans. There has been considerable interest in the clinical application of stem cells to the repair of damaged cartilage; however, current cell therapies using adult chondrocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells face problems associated with the low yield of such cells. The expa...

Clinical, biochemical, roentgenological, and histological features of slipped epiphyses (epiphysiolysis) in 11 out of 112 children with renal osteodystrophy have been analysed. Characteristic age-related patterns of involvement of different epiphyses are described. Quantitative measurements of iliac bone histology, serum parathyroid hormone levels, and clinical history show the presence of more...

Regarding the inadequate healing capability of cartilage tissue, cell-based therapy is making the future of cartilage repair and regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have shown great promise in cartilage regeneration. However, a yet-unresolved issue is the emergence of hypertrophic and pathologic markers during in vitro MSC chondrogenesis. Articular chondrocytes (AC) can suppress the unde...

Diverse cell therapy approaches constitute prime developmental prospects for managing acute or degenerative cartilaginous tissue affections, synergistically complementing specific surgical solutions. Bone marrow stimulation (i.e., microfracture) remains a standard technique cartilage repair promotion, despite incurring the adverse generation of fibrocartilagenous scar tissue, while matrix-induc...

The expression and localization of activins (dimeric protein of inhibin beta subunit) and activin receptors in skeletal tissue were examined. RT-PCR revealed that cultured chondrocytes expressed mRNAs of inhibin/activin betaA and four activin receptors (two type I (ActRI and ActRIB) and two type II (ActRII and ActRIIB)). Immunohistochemical analyses showed that activin betaA, ActRI and ActRII w...

Mandibular processes from 9- to 13-day-old embryonic mice formed both bone and cartilage when grafted to the chorioallantoic membranes of most embryonic chicks. Isolated ectomesenchyme, taken from 9-day-old embryos did not form bone or cartilage, while older ectomesenchyme formed both. Recombination of the epithelial and ectomesenchymal components confirmed that the presence of the epithelium w...