Combination of low intensity electromagnetic field with chondrogenic agent induces chondrogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells with minimal hypertrophic side effects.

: There are different methods to develop neo-chondral tissues from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Application of electromagnetic field (EMF) on ADSCs is one of popular approaches, which results in chondrogenesis. If chondrogenic impact of EMF on ADSCs is supposed to be generalized as a protocol in translational medicine field, possible emergence of early or late hypertrophic maturation, mineralization and inflammatory side effects in chondrogenically differentiating ADSCs should be considered.

Comparative impact of platelet rich plasma and transforming growth factor-β on chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose derived stem cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is known as standard chondrogenic differentiation agent, even though it comes with undesirable side effects such as early hypertrophic maturation, mineralization, and secretion of inflammatory/angiogenic factors. On the other hand, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is found to have a chondrogenic impact on mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, with no considerable side effects. Therefore, we compared chondrogenic impact of TGF-β and PRP on adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), to see if PRP could be introduced as an alternative to TGF-β.