Endogenous DKK1 and FRZB Regulate Chondrogenesis and Hypertrophy in Three-Dimensional Cultures of Human Chondrocytes and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

ABSTRACT: Hypertrophic differentiation occurs during in vitro chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), decreasing the quality of the cartilage construct. Previously we identified WNT pathway antagonists Dickkopf 1 homolog (DKK1) and frizzled-related protein (FRZB) as key factors in blocking hypertrophic differentiation of human MSCs (hMSCs). In this study, we investigated the role of endogenously expressed DKK1 and FRZB in chondrogenesis of hMSC and chondrocyte redifferentiation and in preventing cell hypertrophy using three relevant human cell based systems, isolated hMSCs, isolated primary human chondrocytes (hChs), and cocultures of hMSCs with hChs for which we specifically designed neutralizing nano-antibodies. We selected and tested variable domain of single chain heavy chain only antib

SUBMITTER: Zhong L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5124737 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature