Carrageenan enhances chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in human bone marrow stem cell culture

• Published in: European cells & materials Vol. 37; pp. 310 - 332
• Main Authors: Graceffa, V, Zeugolis, D I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Forum Multimedia Publishing LLC 30.04.2019
• Subjects: Adipogenesis - drug effects; Adult; Bone Marrow Cells - drug effects; Bone Marrow Cells - metabolism; Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; Carrageenan - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Lineage - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chondrogenesis - drug effects; Collagen Type I - metabolism; Collagen Type II - metabolism; extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Humans; macromolecular crowding; Male; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - drug effects; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Osteogenesis - drug effects; Stem Cell Niche - drug effects; stem cell pre-conditioning; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - metabolism; tri-lineage differentiation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1473-2262
• DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v037a19

The extracellular matrix is a dynamic and active component of the mesenchymal stem cell niche, which controls their differentiation and self-renewal. Traditional in vitro culture systems are not able to mimic matrix-cell interactions due to the small amount of extracellular matrix present. Macromolecular crowding, a biophysical phenomenon based on the excluded-volume effect, dramatically accelerates and increases tissue-specific extracellular matrix deposition during in vitro culture. Herein, the influence of macromolecular crowding in pre-condition and tri-lineage differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was investigated. Carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide, enhanced chondrogenesis, as evidenced by increased collagen type II and chondroitin sulphate deposition and unaffected Sox-9 expression. Osteogenesis was also enhanced when carrageenan was used only in the differentiation phase, as evidenced by increased mineralisation, collagen type I deposition and osteopontin expression. Adipogenesis was not enhanced in the presence of carrageenan, suggesting that the chemistry of the crowder may affect stem-cell-lineage commitment. In conclusion, carrageenan, a sulphated polysaccharide, enhanced extracellular matrix deposition and promoted chondrogenesis and osteogenesis but not adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell cultures.