Enzymatically-responsive hyaluronan-glucose hydrogel supports MSC survival and preserves paracrine function under...

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy shows potential in regenerative medicine, particularly in treating osteoarthritis (OA). MSCs injected into the joint can secrete growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules, contributing to paracrine communication and cartilage regeneration. However, in the non-vascularized joint environment, MSCs lacking nutrient supply, starve and die too quickly to efficiently deliver enough of these factors. We have recently synthesized a new hydrogel containing hyaluronic acid and glucose (HA-GLC). This hydrogel allows MSCs to survive and proliferate in an environment with otherwise low glucose levels. Furthermore, it releases glucose through enzymatic cleavage by ß-glucosidase, an enzyme which we have shown to be available and active in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). In this study, we did incorporate MSCs to this HA-GLC hydrogel. Proteomic analysis of the MSC secretome revealed that glucose deprivation modified the profile of secreted factors, inducing changes in several key pathways, including extra-cellular matrix production. We then tested the effect of glucose deprivation in MSC secretome on human chondrocyte (hCH) proliferation and IL-6 secretion. Our results showed an increase in hCH proliferation and a significant decrease in IL-6 expression, when cells were exposed to the secretome of MSCs cultured in glucose-provided media rather than glucose-deprived conditions. These findings highlighted the ability of this new technology (HA-GLC hydrogel) to modulate the MSC secretome function, potentially enhancing cartilage regeneration in OA.