Physiological tonicity improves human chondrogenic marker expression through nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 in vitro

Abstract Introduction: Chondrocytes experience a hypertonic environment compared to plasma (280 mOsm) due to the high fixed negative charge density of cartilage. Standard isolation of chondrocytes removes their hypertonic matrix, exposing them to non-physiological conditions. During in-vitro expansion, chondrocytes quickly lose their specialized phenotype, making them inappropriate for cell-based regenerative strategies. We aimed to elucidate the effects of tonicity during isolation and in-vitro expansion on chondrocyte phenotype. Methods: Human articular chondrocytes were isolated and subsequently expanded at control tonicity (280 mOsm) or at moderately elevated, physiological, tonicity (380 mOsm). The effects of physiological tonicity on chondrocyte proliferation and chondrogenic marker expression were evaluated. The role of Tonicity-responsive Enhancer Binding Protein (TonEBP/NFAT5) in response to physiological tonicity was investigated using nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) RNA interference. Results: Moderately elevated, physiological, tonicity (380 mOsm) did not affect chondrocyte proliferation, while higher tonicities inhibited proliferation and diminished cell viability. Physiological tonicity improved expression of chondrogenic markers and NFAT5 and its target genes, while suppressing dedifferentiation marker collagen type I and improving type II/type I expression ratios >100-fold. Effects of physiological tonicity were similar in osteoarthritic and ‘normal’ (non-osteoarthritic) chondrocytes, indicating a disease-independent mechanism. NFAT5 RNA interference abolished tonicity-mediated effects and revealed that NFAT5 positively regulates collagen type II expression, while suppressing type I. Conclusions: Physiological tonicity provides a simple, yet effective, means to improve phenotypical characteristics during cytokine-free isolation and in-vitro expansion of human articular chondrocytes. Our findings will lead to the development of improved cell-based repair strategies for chondral lesions and provides important insights into mechanisms underlying osteoarthritic progression.

• View at Publisher
• View at Pubmed
• View at Scopus
• View at Web of Science

Free Full Text ( Final Version , 1mb )