Spinner-flask culture induces redifferentiation of de-differentiated chondrocytes

Biotechnol Lett. 2011 Apr;33(4):829-36. doi: 10.1007/s10529-010-0488-1. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Abstract

Implantation of chondrocytes isolated from patients and expanded in number in vitro is being used to treat patients with cartilage injuries. However, chondrocytes de-differentiate during culture with several passages, and cartilage regenerated by implantation of de-differentiated chondrocytes may be suboptimal. Here, we show that a spinner-flask culture system induces formation of chondrocyte aggregates and redifferentiate de-differentiated chondrocytes. Spinner-flask cultures induced the aggregate formation of chondrocytes with passage 1 or 4. Importantly, spinner-flask cultures induced redifferentiation of the de-differentiated chondrocytes, as type I collagen expression was significantly lower and type II collagen expression was significantly higher in spinner flask-cultured chondrocytes than in monolayer-cultured chondrocytes. This system is easily scalable and could be feasible for clinical setting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bioreactors
  • Cell Culture Techniques*
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Chondrocytes / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning