Lactoferrin Stimulates Chondrogenesis and Promotes Healing of the Auricular Elastic Cartilage.

Ear reconstruction surgeries for congenital deformities and trauma are common, highlighting the need for improved cartilage regeneration. Lactoferrin (LF), a natural and cost-effective protein, is promising due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and prochondrogenic properties. This study investigates the effects of LF on the viability, proliferation, and chondrogenesis of rabbit auricular chondrocytes.

Stimulation of skeletal stem cells in the growth plate promotes linear bone growth.

Recently, skeletal stem cells were shown to be present in the epiphyseal growth plate (epiphyseal skeletal stem cells, epSSCs), but their function in connection with linear bone growth remains unknown. Here, we explore the possibility that modulating the number of epSSCs can correct differences in leg length. First, we examined regulation of the number and activity of epSSCs by Hedgehog (Hh) signaling.

Resveratrol's Impact on the Chondrogenic Reagents' Effects in Cell Sheet Cultures of Wharton's Jelly-Derived MSCs.

Human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) are of great interest in tissue engineering. We obtained hWJ-MSCs from four patients, and then we stimulated their chondrogenic phenotype formation in vitro by adding resveratrol (during cell expansion) and a canonical Wnt pathway activator, LiCl, as well as a Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor, Y27632 (during differentiation). The effects of the added reagents on the formation of hWJ-MSC sheets destined to repair osteochondral injuries were investigated.

Notch Signaling Regulates the Chondrogenic Potential of Both Articular Chondrocytes and Their Progenitors During Expansion.

Articular cartilage has a limited capacity for self-repair and clinical approaches to cartilage regeneration are needed. The only such approach developed to date involves an expansion of primary autologous chondrocytes in culture, followed by their reimplantation into a cartilage defect. However, because of the formation of fibrocartilage instead of hyaline cartilage, the outcome is often not satisfactory.

Strategies to Convert Cells into Hyaline Cartilage: Magic Spells for Adult Stem Cells.

Damaged hyaline cartilage gradually decreases joint function and growing pain significantly reduces the quality of a patient's life. The clinically approved procedure of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) for treating knee cartilage lesions has several limits, including the absence of healthy articular cartilage tissues for cell isolation and difficulties related to the chondrocyte expansion in vitro. Today, various ACI modifications are being developed using autologous chondrocytes from alternative sources, such as the auricles, nose and ribs.