Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 Increases the Trophic Effects of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Chondrocytes Isolated from Late Stage Osteoarthritic Patients

Figure 3

Coimplantation of MSCs and chondrocyte in alginate hydrogel subcutaneously in nude mice. (a) Overview of tissue engineering constructs containing chondrocytes only or mixture of MSC and chondrocyte. Hydrogel was loaded with or without FGF18 (10 ng/mL). Bar = 5 mm. (b) Tissue engineering constructs were sectioned and stained with Safranin O. Lower panel is the enlarged pictures of the inserts in upper panel. Bar = 50 μm. (c) GAGs were quantified in tissue engineering constructs GAG assay (). Total GAGs (μg) were normalized to wet weight (mg). Data was presented as mean ± standard deviation. values were calculated with Student’s -test. NS: nonsignificance. (d) Collagen contents were measured in tissue engineering constructs by hydroxyproline assay (). Total collagen (μg) was normalized to wet weight (mg). Data was presented as mean ± standard deviation. values were calculated with Student’s -test. NS: nonsignificance. (e) Collagen type II deposition was tested in tissue engineering constructs by ELISA (). Total COL II (μg) was normalized to wet weight (mg). Data was presented as mean ± standard deviation. values were calculated with Student’s -test. NS: nonsignificance.

(a)

(b)

(c) GAG assay

(d) Collagen assay

(e) COL II ELISA