Characterization of Human Periosteum-derived Progenitor Cells for the Chondrogenesis in Atelocollagen Gel

초록

Periosteum contains two layers, an outer fibrous layer and an inner cambium layer. Cells in the cambium layer have a potential to differentiate directly into chondrocytes or bone.Because periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) have the advantage, in that it is possible to obtain more cells from the periosteum for hyaline cartilage treatment than from the cartilage of patients. PDPCs were isolated and characterized by flow cytometry using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). The chondrogenesis of PDPCs embedded in Atelocollagen？ gel was performed in defined medium containing transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3). The differentiation was confirmed by RT-PCR and histological analysis for theexpression of type II collagen (Col. II). The PDPCs showed positive response for CD9, CD90, CD105, CD166, SH2, SH3, and SH4, which were possible to induce chondrogenic differentiation, but it showed negative for CD34, and CD45. These results showed that the characterized PDPCs were the chondrogenic progenitor cells and Atelocollagen？ gel served as a useful carrier for PDPCs in transplantation, proliferation, matrix synthesis anddifferentiation. Therefore, it could be used as a matrix for healing the defected cartilage.