Priming Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Hyaluronan Alters Growth Kinetics and Increases Attachment to Articular Cartilage

Abstract EN

Background.

Biological therapeutics such as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy are gaining acceptance for knee-osteoarthritis (OA) treatment.

Reports of OA-patients show reductions in cartilage defects and regeneration of hyaline-like-cartilage with MSC-therapy.

Suspending MSCs in hyaluronan commonly occurs in animals and humans, usually without supporting data.

Objective.

To elucidate the effects of different concentrations of hyaluronan on MSC growth kinetics.

Methods.

Using a range of hyaluronan concentrations, we measured MSC adherence and proliferation on culture plastic surfaces and a novel cartilage-adhesion assay.

We employed time-course and dispersion imaging to assess MSC binding to cartilage.

Cytokine profiling was also conducted on the MSC-secretome.

Results.

Hyaluronan had dose-dependent effects on growth kinetics of MSCs at concentrations of entanglement point (1 mg/mL).

At higher concentrations, viscosity effects outweighed benefits of additional hyaluronan.

The cartilage-adhesion assay highlighted for the first time that hyaluronan-primed MSCs increased cell attachment to cartilage whilst the presence of hyaluronan did not.

Our time-course suggested patients undergoing MSC-therapy for OA could benefit from joint-immobilisation for up to 8 hours.

Hyaluronan also greatly affected dispersion of MSCs on cartilage.

Conclusion.

Our results should be considered in future trials with MSC-therapy using hyaluronan as a vehicle, for the treatment of OA.