Cell Source-Dependent In Vitro Chondrogenic Differentiation Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Established from Bone Marrow and Synovial Fluid of Camelus dromedarius

Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cell Paracrine Factors Possess Stimulatory Effects on Chondrogenesis In Vitro and Diminish the Degradation of Articular Cartilage during Osteoarthritis

Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue with a limited capacity for self-regeneration, leading the tissue to osteoarthritis (OA). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising for cartilage tissue engineering, as they are capable of differentiating into chondrocyte-like cells and secreting a number of active molecules that are important for cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of easily accessible menstrual blood-derived MSC (MenSC) paracrine factors in stimulating bone marrow MSC (BMMSCs) chondrogenic differentiation and to investigate their role in protecting cartilage from degradation in vitro. MenSCs and BMMSCs chondrogenic differentiation was induced using four different growth factors: TGF-β3, activin A, BMP-2, and IGF-1. The chondrogenic differentiation of BMMSCs was stimulated in co-cultures with MenSCs and cartilage explants co-cultured with MenSCs for 21 days. The chondrogenic capacity of BMMSCs was analyzed by the secretion of four growth factors and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, as well as the release and synthesis of cartilage ECM proteins, and chondrogenic gene expression in cartilage explants. Our results suggest that MenSCs stimulate chondrogenic response in BMMSCs by secreting activin A and TGF-β3 and may have protective effects on cartilage tissue ECM by decreasing the release of GAGs, most likely through the modulation of activin A related molecular pathway. In conclusion, paracrine factors secreted by MenSCs may turn out to be a promising therapeutical approach for cartilage tissue protection and repair.

The Effects of Mechanical Load on Chondrogenic Responses of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Chondrocytes Encapsulated in Chondroitin Sulfate-Based Hydrogel

Articular cartilage is vulnerable to mechanical overload and has limited ability to restore lesions, which leads to the development of chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, the chondrogenic responses of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and OA cartilage-derived chondrocytes in 3D chondroitin sulfate-tyramine/gelatin (CS-Tyr)/Gel) hydrogels with or without experimental mechanical load have been investigated. Chondrocytes were smaller in size, had slower proliferation rate and higher level of intracellular calcium (iCa²⁺) compared to BMMSCs. Under 3D chondrogenic conditions in CS-Tyr/Gel with or without TGF-β3, chondrocytes more intensively secreted cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and expressed collagen type II (COL2A1) and aggrecan (ACAN) genes but were more susceptible to mechanical load compared to BMMSCs. ICa²⁺ was more stably controlled in CS-Tyr/Gel/BMMSCs than in CS-Tyr/Gel/chondrocytes ones, through the expression of L-type channel subunit CaV1.2 (CACNA1C) and Serca2 pump (ATP2A2) genes, and their balance was kept more stable. Due to the lower susceptibility to mechanical load, BMMSCs in CS-Tyr/Gel hydrogel may have an advantage over chondrocytes in application for cartilage regeneration purposes. The mechanical overload related cartilage damage in vivo and the vague regenerative processes of OA chondrocytes might be associated to the inefficient control of iCa²⁺ regulating channels.

The Resurrection of Mabrokan: Production of Multiple Cloned Offspring from Decade-Old Vitrified Tissue Collected from a Deceased Champion Show Camel

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) provides a unique opportunity to reproduce animals with superior genetics. Viable cell lines are usually established from tissues collected by biopsy from living animals in the SCNT program. In the present study, tissues were collected and preserved from a suddenly deceased champion camel. We established cell lines from these decade-old tissues and used them as nuclear donors. After 42 h of in vitro maturation, 68.00 ± 2.40% of oocytes reached the metaphase II (M II) stage while 87.31 ± 2.57% in vivo collected oocytes were matured at collection (p < 0.05). We observed a higher blastocyst formation rate when in vivo matured oocytes (43.45 ± 2.07%) were used compared to in vitro matured oocytes (21.52 ± 1.74%). The live birth rate was 6.45% vs. 16.67% for in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes, respectively. Microsatellite analysis of 13 camel loci revealed that all the SCNT-derived offspring were identical to each other and with their somatic cell donor. The present study succeeded in the resurrection of 11 healthy offspring from the decade-old vitrified tissues of a single somatic cell donor individual using both in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes.