Differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells toward nucleus pulposus-like cells induced by hypoxia and a three-dimensional chitosan-alginate gel scaffold in vitro.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Injectable three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have the advantages of fluidity and moldability to fill irregular-shaped defects, simple incorporation of bioactive factors, and limited surgical invasiveness. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are multipotent and can be differentiated toward nucleus pulposus (NP)-like cells. A hypoxic environment may be important for differentiation to NP-like cells because the intervertebral disc is an avascular tissue. Hence, we investigated the induction effects of hypoxia and an injectable 3D chitosan-alginate (C/A) gel scaffold on ADSCs. The C/A gel scaffold consisted of medical-grade chitosan and alginate. Gel porosity was calculated by liquid displacement method. Pore microstructure was analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. ADSCs were isolated and cultured by conventional methods. Passage 2 BrdU-labeled ADSCs were co-cultured with the C/A gel. ADSCs were divided into three groups (control, normoxia-induced, and hypoxia-induced groups). In the control group, cells were cultured in 10% FBS/DMEM. Hypoxia-induced and normoxia-induced groups were induced by adding transforming growth factor-β1, dexamethasone, vitamin C, sodium pyruvate, proline, bone morphogenetic protein-7, and 1% ITS-plus to the culture medium and maintaining in 2% and 20% O2, respectively. Histological and morphological changes were observed by light and electron

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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