Engineering superficial zone chondrocytes from mesenchymal stem cells

Recent cartilage engineering efforts have focused on development of zonally organized tissue. However, there remains a need for protocols that differentiate progenitor populations into chondrocytes of zonal phenotype. Here, we evaluate the potential of coculture of bovine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and zonal explants of bovine cartilage tissue to drive MSC differentiation to chondrocytes with the superficial zone phenotype. Two coculture systems were set up: one between alginate encapsulated MSCs and superficial zone cartilage explants, and one between MSCs and middle/deep zone cartilage explants. Chondrogenic and superficial zone markers were monitored over a 21-day differentiation period via gene and protein expression. A control conditioned media study was used to determine the impact of communication via soluble factors between cell populations during differentiation. At day 21, results show superficial zone explant coculture without transforming-growth factor β3 supplementation induces upregulation of chondrogenic gene expression markers SOX9 and type II collagen 3.4-fold and 11.4-fold, respectively, over standard chondrogenic control media. Further, coculture of MSCs and superficial zone explants can be used to upregulate mRNA expression of the superficial zone marker proteoglycan-4 in MSCs (1.75-fold over chondrogenic control at day 21), indicating the superficial zone chondrocyte phenotype. Gene expression data show middle/deep zone explant and MSC coculture did not induce the chondrogenesis observed in superficial zone explant coculture. Likewise, poor chondrogenesis was observed in all conditioned media groups. Results highlight the importance of superficial zone cartilage and cells in guiding stem cell fate and regulating differentiation of MSCs to chondrocytes of the superficial zone type.