Resting Chondrocytes in Culture Survive without Growth Factors, but Are Sensitive to Toxic Oxygen Metabolites

Chondrocytes in dense suspension culture in agarose survive in serum-free DME because they secrete low molecular mass compounds supporting their own viability. This activity can be replaced by pyruvate, or sulfhydryl compounds, e.g., cysteine or dithioerythritol. Catalase, an enzyme decomposing H2 O...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 1990-07, Vol.111 (1), p.257-260
Main Authors: Tschan, Thomas, Höerler, Isabel, Houze, Yolanda, Winterhalter, Kaspar H., Richter, Christoph, Bruckner, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal cells
Animals
Benzamides - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Cartilage - cytology
Cartilage - drug effects
Catalase - pharmacology
Cell culture techniques
Cell cultures. Hybridization. Fusion
Cell growth
Cell Survival - drug effects
Cells
Cells, Cultured
Chick Embryo
Chondrocytes
Collagen - biosynthesis
Collagen - isolation & purification
Culture Media
Cultured cells
Cysteine - pharmacology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrogen
Kinetics
Molecular and cellular biology
Oxygen
Peroxides
Pyruvates - pharmacology
Superoxide Dismutase - pharmacology
Viability
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Summary:Chondrocytes in dense suspension culture in agarose survive in serum-free DME because they secrete low molecular mass compounds supporting their own viability. This activity can be replaced by pyruvate, or sulfhydryl compounds, e.g., cysteine or dithioerythritol. Catalase, an enzyme decomposing H2 O2, also protects the cells, whereas superoxide dismutase has no effect. Therefore, chondrocytes in culture are sensitive to toxic compounds derived from molecular oxygen, i.e., hydroxyl radicals or hydrogen peroxide spontaneously generated in DME containing ascorbate and ferrous ions. Poly-ADP-ribosylation is an important step in the cascade of events triggered by these compounds. To survive, chondrocytes do not require stimulation by growth factors. They remain resting cells in fully defined, serum-free culture also at low density. Proliferation and hypertrophy can be induced by serum, but not by low cell density alone.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.111.1.257