Osteogenic protein (OP-1, BMP-7) stimulates cartilage differentiation of human and goat perichondrium tissue in vitro

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research 1998-06, Vol.40 (4), p.614-620
• Main Authors: Klein-Nulend, J., Louwerse, R. T., Heyligers, I. C., Wuisman, P. I. J. M., Semeins, C. M., Goei, S. W., Burger, E. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical engineering; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - pharmacology; cartilage; Cartilage - cytology; Cartilage - drug effects; cartilage repair; Cell culture; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cells; Culture Techniques; Ear, External - blood supply; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Goats; growth factors; Humans; Miscellaneous; osteogenic protein-1; Proteins; Sulfur compounds; tissue engineering; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Wound Healing - drug effects
• ISSN: 0021-9304; 1097-4636
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4636(19980615)40:4<614::AID-JBM13>3.0.CO;2-F

The objective of this study was to examine in vitro the influence of recombinant human osteogenic protein‐1 [rhOP‐1, or bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7)] on cartilage formation by human and goat perichondrium tissue containing progenitor cells with chondrogenic potential. Fragments of outer ear perichondrium tissue were embedded in clotting autologous blood to which rhOP‐1 had been added or not added (controls), and the resulting explant was cultured for 3 weeks without further addition of rhOP‐1. Cartilage formation was monitored biochemically by measuring [35S]‐sulphate incorporation into proteoglycans and histologically by monitoring the presence of metachromatic matrix with cells in nests. The presence of rhOP‐1 in the explant at the beginning of culture stimulated [35S]‐sulphate incorporation into proteoglycans in a dose‐dependent manner after 3 weeks of culture. Maximal stimulation was reached at 40 μg/mL (human explants: +148%; goat explants: +116%). Histology revealed that explants treated with 20–200 μg/mL of rhOP‐1, but not untreated control explants, contained areas of metachromatic‐staining matrix with chondrocytes in cell nests. It was concluded that rhOP‐1 stimulates differentiation of cartilage from perichondrium tissue. The direct actions of rhOP‐1 on perichondrium cells in the stimulation of chondrocytic differentiation and production of cartilage matrix in vitro provides a cellular mechanism for the induction of cartilage formation by rhOP‐1 in vivo. Thus rhOP‐1 may promote early steps in the cascade of events leading to cartilage formation and could prove to be an interesting factor in the regeneration of cartilage in articular cartilage defects. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 40, 614–620, 1998.