Lee Seung Yeon, Lee Jin Woo
Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Gachon University, 155, Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-ku, Incheon 21999, Korea.
Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, 155, Gaetbeol-ro, Yeonsu-ku, Incheon 21999, Korea.
Life (Basel). 2022 Jun 22;12(7):939. doi: 10.3390/life12070939.
Cartilage is a connective tissue that constitutes the structure of the body and consists of chondrocytes that produce considerable collagenous extracellular matrix and plentiful ground substances, such as proteoglycan and elastin fibers. Self-repair is difficult when the cartilage is damaged because of insufficient blood supply, low cellularity, and limited progenitor cell numbers. Therefore, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, including pellet culture, hanging droplets, liquid overlays, self-injury, and spinner culture, have attracted attention. In particular, 3D spheroid culture strategies can enhance the yield of exosome production of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) when compared to two-dimensional culture, and can improve cellular restorative function by enhancing the paracrine effects of MSCs. Exosomes are membrane-bound extracellular vesicles, which are intercellular communication systems that carry RNAs and proteins. Information transfer affects the phenotype of recipient cells. MSC-derived exosomes can facilitate cartilage repair by promoting chondrogenic differentiation and proliferation. In this article, we reviewed recent major advances in the application of 3D culture techniques, cartilage regeneration with stem cells using 3D spheroid culture system, the effect of exosomes on chondrogenic differentiation, and chondrogenic-specific markers related to stem cell derived exosomes. Furthermore, the utilization of MSC-derived exosomes to enhance chondrogenic differentiation for osteoarthritis is discussed. If more mechanistic studies at the molecular level are conducted, MSC-spheroid-derived exosomes will supply a better therapeutic option to improve osteoarthritis.
软骨是一种构成身体结构的结缔组织,由软骨细胞组成,软骨细胞可产生大量的胶原细胞外基质和丰富的基质,如蛋白聚糖和弹性纤维。由于血液供应不足、细胞数量少和祖细胞数量有限,软骨受损时自我修复困难。因此,包括微团培养、悬滴培养、液体覆盖培养、自体损伤培养和旋转培养在内的三维(3D)培养系统受到了关注。特别是,与二维培养相比,3D球体培养策略可以提高间充质干细胞(MSCs)外泌体的产量,并通过增强MSCs的旁分泌作用来改善细胞修复功能。外泌体是膜结合的细胞外囊泡,是携带RNA和蛋白质的细胞间通讯系统。信息传递会影响受体细胞的表型。MSC来源的外泌体可以通过促进软骨形成分化和增殖来促进软骨修复。在本文中,我们综述了3D培养技术应用、使用3D球体培养系统进行干细胞软骨再生、外泌体对软骨形成分化的影响以及与干细胞来源外泌体相关的软骨形成特异性标志物的最新主要进展。此外,还讨论了利用MSC来源的外泌体增强骨关节炎软骨形成分化的问题。如果在分子水平上进行更多的机制研究,MSC球体来源的外泌体将为改善骨关节炎提供更好的治疗选择。