Anti-BGLAP monoclonal antibody, clone 6F9G4E10

This study aimed to compare clonogenicity, proliferation, stem cell-related marker expression, senescence, and differentiation potential of rat patellar tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) at early (P5), mid (P10), and late (P20, P30) passages. The clonogenicity of the cells was assessed by colony-forming assay and their proliferative potential was assessed by bromodeoxyuridine assay. The surface expression of CD90 and CD73 was assessed by flow cytometry. The cellular senescence was assessed by beta-galactosidase activity. The adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic differentiation potentials of TDSCs were assessed by standard assays after induction. The mRNA expression of tendon-related markers, scleraxis (Scx) and tenomodulin (Tnmd), was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Both the colony numbers and proliferative potential of TDSCs increased with passaging. Concomitantly, there was significant upregulation of b-galactosidase activity with TDSC passaging. The subculture of TDSCs downregulated the expression of CD90 and CD73. Lipid droplets were formed in the early and mid passages of TDSCs upon adipogenic induction, but were absent in the late passages. The expression of peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma 2 (PPAR gamma 2) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) in TDSCs after adipogenic induction decreased with passaging. Chondrogenesis, proteoglycan deposition, collagen type II protein expression, collagen type 2A1 (Col2AI), and aggrecan (Acan) mRNA expression were less in pellets formed with later passages of TDSCs after chondrogenic induction. The expression of Scx and Tnmd was lower in the late, compared with early and mid, passages of TDSCs. However, matrix mineralization and expression of alkaline phosphatase (Alpl) and osteocalcin (Bglap) mRNA after osteogenic induction increased with TDSC passaging. Researchers and clinicians should consider the changes of stem cell-related properties of TDSCs when multiplying them in vitro for tissue engineering.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold great promise for regenerative therapies in the musculoskeletal system. Although MSCs from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue (AD-MSCs) have been extensively characterized, there is still debate as to the ideal source of MSCs for tissue-engineering applications in bone repair. Methods: MSCs were isolated from cortical bone fragments (CBF-MSCs) obtained from patients undergoing laminectomy, selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and tested for their potential to undergo mesodermic differentiation. CBF-MSCs were then compared with BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs for their colony-forming unit capability and osteogenic potential in both normoxia and hypoxia. After 2 and 4 weeks in inducing media, differentiation was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively by the evaluation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and mineral deposition (Von Kossa staining). Transcriptional activity of osteoblastogenesis-associated genes (Alp, RUNX2, Spp1, and Bglap) was also analyzed. Results: The cortical fraction of the bone contains a subset of cells positive for MSC-associated markers and capable of tri-lineage differentiation. The hypoxic conditions were generally more effective in inducing osteogenesis for the three cell lines. However, at 2 and 4 weeks, greater calcium deposition and ALP expression were observed in both hypoxic and normoxic conditions in CBF-MSCs compared with AD-and BM-MSCs. These functional observations were further corroborated by gene expression analysis, which showed a significant upregulation of Bglap, Alp, and Spp1, with a 22.50 (+/- 4.55)-, 46.56 (+/- 7.4)-, 71.46 (+/- 4.16)-fold increase compared with their uninduced counterparts. Conclusions: This novel population of MSCs retains a greater biosynthetic activity in vitro, which was found increased in hypoxic conditions. The present study demonstrates that quantitative differences between MSCs retrieved from bone marrow, adipose, and the cortical portion of the bone with respect to their osteogenic potential exist and suggests the cortical bone as suitable candidate to use for orthopedic tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.