Developmentally inspired programming of adult human mesenchymal stromal cells toward stable chondrogenesis

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1720658115
• Publication Date: 2018-04-17T15:00:41Z
• Authors: Paola Occhetta; Sebastien Pigeot; Marco Rasponi; Boris Dasen; Arne Mehrkens; Thomas Ullrich; Ina Kramer; Sabine Guth-Gundel; Andrea Barbero; Ivan Martin
• Keywords: Chondrogenesis; Endochondral ossification; Mesenchyme

Significance The study offers a pharmacological solution to the challenging target of inducing stable chondrogenesis by human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), including protection against vascularization. Cells were reversed from tendency follow default differentiation pathway, namely endochondral ossification and osteogenesis. Our findings open perspectives in articular cartilage regeneration, as well establishment hMSC-based models development, physiology, possibly pathology. Importantly, results achieved mimicking molecular processes occurring during embryonic formation. This indicates that adult hMSCs share similarities with mesenchyme validates relevance engineer developmental (“developmental engineering”) control fate specification stem/progenitor cell systems.