Temporal effects of cytokine treatment on lubricant synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase activity of fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are major contributors to the composition and function of synovial fluid (SF). In disease, changes to important SF molecules such as hyaluronic acid (HA), lubricin, and numerous inflammatory markers contribute to a loss of SF functional properties. Previous studies characterized the ability of FLS to produce SF molecules in short-term cultures using continuous cytokine supplementation.

Cartilage Metabolism is Modulated by Synovial Fluid Through Metalloproteinase Activity.

Synovial fluid (SF) contains various cytokines that regulate chondrocyte metabolism and is dynamically associated with joint disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diluted normal SF on catabolic metabolism of articular cartilage under inflammatory conditions. For this purpose, SF was isolated from healthy bovine joints, diluted, and added to cartilage explant cultures stimulated with interleukin-1 (IL-1) for 12 days.

High-throughput cell aggregate culture for stem cell chondrogenesis.

Cell aggregate culture is a widely used, reliable system for promoting chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells. A high-throughput cell pellet culture enables screening of various soluble factors for their effects on stem cell function and chondrogenesis. In this protocol, we report a platform that allows the formation of stem cell aggregates in a 96-well plate format.