Human adult, pediatric and microtia auricular cartilage harbor fibronectin-adhering progenitor cells with regenerative ear reconstruction potential.

ABSTRACT: Remaining challenges in auricular cartilage tissue engineering include acquiring sufficient amounts of regeneration-competent cells and subsequent production of high-quality neocartilage. Progenitor cells are a resident subpopulation of native cartilage, displaying a high proliferative and cartilage-forming capacity, yet their potential for regenerative medicine is vastly understudied. In this study, human auricular cartilage progenitor cells were newly identified in healthy cartilage and, importantly, in microtia-impaired chondral remnants. Their cartilage repair potential was assessed via in vitro 3D culture upon encapsulation in a gelatin-based hydrogel, and subsequent biochemical, mechanical, and histological analyses. Auricular cartilage progenitor cells demonstrate a potent ab

SUBMITTER: Otto IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9464889 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature