Microenvironment-directed chondrogenesis of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage in vivo.

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)

Cartilage exhibits remarkable subtype diversity-hyaline, fibrocartilage, and elastic-each with unique extracellular matrix architecture and mechanical function. Despite the clinical promise of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) for cartilage regeneration, whether distinct in vivo cartilage microenvironments can instruct ADMSC differentiation toward corresponding subtypes remains poorly defined. Green fluorescent protein-labeled human ADMSCs were encapsulated in a fibrin hydrogel and implanted into three representative cartilage sites-auricular (elastic), articular (hyaline), and meniscal (fibrocartilage)-in an immunodeficient rat model. Regenerated tissues were harvested at 4 weeks for histology (H&E), immunofluorescence analysis of hyaline (COL II, aggrecan), fibrocartilage (COL I, tenomodulin), and elastic (fibrillin-1, elastin) markers, and RT-PCR quantification of lineage-associated gene expression. ADMSCs survived and engrafted within all three microenvironments. Articular cartilage implants exhibited strong hyaline-like differentiation, characterized by intense COL II and aggrecan expression and upregulation of SOX9, COL2A1, and ACAN. Meniscal implants instead displayed a fibrocartilage-like profile with robust COL I and tenomodulin expression and elevated COL1A1, TNMD, and SCX transcripts. In contrast, auricular cartilage implants showed negligible expressio

Evidence level

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

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