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Technology Insight: adult stem cells in cartilage regeneration and tissue engineering

Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology volume 2, pages 373–382 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Articular cartilage, the load-bearing tissue of the joint, has limited repair and regeneration potential. The scarcity of treatment modalities for large chondral defects has motivated attempts to engineer cartilage tissue constructs that can meet the functional demands of this tissue in vivo. Cartilage tissue engineering requires three components: cells, scaffold, and environment. Adult stem cells, specifically multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, are considered the cell type of choice for tissue engineering, because of the ease with which they can be isolated and expanded and their multilineage differentiation capabilities. Successful outcome of cell-based cartilage tissue engineering ultimately depends on the proper differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes and the assembly of the appropriate cartilaginous matrix to achieve the load-bearing capabilities of the natural articular cartilage. Multiple requirements, including growth factors, signaling molecules, and physical influences, need to be met. Adult mesenchymal stem-cell-based tissue engineering is a promising technology for the development of a transplantable cartilage replacement to improve joint function.

Key Points

  • Biological and tissue-based approaches to the repair and regeneration of cartilage in degenerating joint diseases (i.e. cartilage tissue engineering) are needed

  • Engineered cartilage needs to perform the major load-bearing function of cartilage, which is dependent on its extracellular matrix

  • Successful cartilage tissue engineering depends on three factors: scaffolds, cells, and environment

  • Adult mesenchymal stem cells are highly suitable as the building-block cell type for cartilage tissue engineering and regeneration, because of the ease with which they can be isolated and expanded, and their multipotential differentiation capability

  • Bioactive factors, along with the appropriate environmental cues, including mechanical stimulation and oxygen tension, are important for the differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes for successful cartilage repair

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Figure 1: Extracellular matrix of cartilage.
Figure 2: Schematic of the cartilage tissue engineering process.
Figure 3: Multilineage differentiation potential of adult human mesenchymal stem cells.
Figure 4: Cartilage tissue engineering using biodegradable polymeric nanofibrous scaffold.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH (Z01 AR41113).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. staff scientist,

    Faye H Chen, Kathleen T Rousche & Rocky S Tuan

  2. postdoctoral fellow,

    Faye H Chen, Kathleen T Rousche & Rocky S Tuan

  3. Department of Health and Human Services, Cartilage Biology and Orthopaedics Branch, at the National Institute of Arthritis, and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Faye H Chen, Kathleen T Rousche & Rocky S Tuan

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  1. Faye H Chen
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Correspondence to Rocky S Tuan.

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Chen, F., Rousche, K. & Tuan, R. Technology Insight: adult stem cells in cartilage regeneration and tissue engineering. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2, 373–382 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncprheum0216

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