BMP-6 enhances chondrogenesis in a subpopulation of human marrow stromal cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2001 Jun 8;284(2):411-8. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4898.

Abstract

Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) can differentiate into several mesenchymal lineages. MSCs were recently shown to form cartilage in micromass cultures with serum-free medium containing TGF-beta and dexamethasone. Here we found that addition of BMP-6 increased the weight of the pellets about 10-fold and they stained more extensively for proteoglycans. mRNAs for type II procollagen and type X collagen were detected at 1 week and the levels were increased at 3 weeks. We also compared two subpopulation of cultures of MSCs: Small and rapidly self-renewing cells (RS cells) and the large, more mature and slowly replicating cells (mMSCs). The cartilage pellets prepared from cultures enriched for RS cells were about 2.5-fold larger, stained more extensively for proteoglycans, and had levels of mRNA for type II procollagen that were 1.6-fold higher. Also, RS cells retained more of their chondrogenic potential as the cells were passaged.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Cartilage / cytology
  • Cartilage / growth & development*
  • Cartilage / metabolism
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Collagen / genetics
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Procollagen / genetics
  • Procollagen / metabolism
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Stromal Cells / drug effects*
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / pharmacology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3

Substances

  • BMP6 protein, human
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Procollagen
  • Proteoglycans
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3
  • Dexamethasone
  • Collagen