Extracellular matrix protein gene expression of bovine chondrocytes cultured on resorbable scaffolds

It has been demonstrated that using cultured chondrocytes that have been se eded onto various biomatrices can enhance the quality of the articular cart ilage repair tissue. As tissue-engineering becomes increasingly more comple x there is a need to understand how a specific biomaterial may influence ge ne expression. Tn this study several commonly used scaffold materials for c artilage tissue engineering were evaluated with respect to their influence on matrix gene expression. Primary cultures of bovine chondrocytes were est ablished in monolayer then seeded onto polylactic acid (PLLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), collagen matrices. The induction of collagen type I, collagen type II, and aggrecan was observed at various time points on these biomater ials using RT-PCR. The collagen type I gene was upregulated on collagen sca ffolds throughout the culture period. PLLA and PCA showed initial induction followed by downregulation. Monolayer culture did not induce collagen I me ssage. Collagen II genes were selectively upregulated after 72 and 96 h pos t seeding depending the scaffold material. Monolayer culture had strong ind uction of collagen LT. The aggrecan protein was consistently expressed in a ll scaffold materials cultures and monolayer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.