Regulative mechanisms of chondrocyte adhesion

Interaction between chondrocytes and extracellular matrix is considered a key factor in the generation of grafts for matrix-associated chondrocyte transplantation. Therefore, our objective was to study the influence of differentiation status on cellular attachment. Adhesion of chondrocytes to collagen type II increased after removal from native cartilage up to the third day in monolayer in a dose-dependent manner. Following dedifferentiation after the second passage, adhesion to collagen types I (-84%) and II (-46%) decreased, whereas adhesion to fibrinogen (+59%) and fibronectin (+43%) increased. A cartilage construct was developed based on a clinically established collagen type I scaffold. In this matrix, more than 80% of the cells could be immobilized by mechanisms of adhesion, filtration, and cell entrapment. Confocal laser microscopy revealed focal adhesion sites as points of cell-matrix interaction, as well as collagen type II expression in the cartilage graft after two weeks of in vitro cultivation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treated chondrocytes showed increased adhesion to collagen types I and II, fibronectin, and fibrinogen. Attachment to these investigated proteins significantly enhanced cell proliferation. Matrix design in cartilage engineering must meet the biological demands of amplified cells, because adhesion of chondrocytes depends on their differentiation status and is regulated by bFGF.