Percoll density gradient에 의한 토끼 관절 연골세포의 분류

초록

Articular chondorcytes have been known to have heterogeneity in articular cartilage. Four layers are generally recognized from the articular surface to the subchondroal bone, manely the superficial, middle, deep, and calcified zone. These subdivions are based on well-recognized morphological differences in cell shape and volume, collage fibril diameter and orientation, and proteoglycan concentration. Therefore, we have used Percoll density gradients to seperate chondrocytes from articular cartilage into distinct subpopulations. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that rabbit articular chondrocytes, fractionated by Percoll density centrifugation were found to contain subpopulations of cells. Fraction A and B exhibited chondrocyte-like morphological and biochemical characteristics in vitro, as determined by collagen type II protein expression. The expression of colagen type II phenotype was never found in fraction C and D cells. These observations suggest that in the unfrationated heterogeneous populations of cells, characterization of cultured cells, such as growth rate and phenotypic expression, varies depending on subpopulation of cells.