Chondrocyte phenotypes on different extracellular matrix monolayers

Chondrocytes undergo a process of dedifferentiation in monolayer culture that is characterized by a transition to a fibroblast-like phenotype. This behavioral change poses a challenge for tissue-engineered cartilage constructs, as approaches using autologous cells require expansion in vitro. Because chondrocytes express a variety of integrin receptors specific to different adhesive proteins, we hypothesized that chondrocytes expanded on various underlying protein monolayers would have different phenotypic responses. Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured for up to 2 weeks on tissue culture plastic, fibronectin, collagen type I or collagen type II substrate in the presence or absence of ascorbate. Contrary to our hypothesis, the extracellular matrix protein substrates used in this study did not significantly alter the changes in chondrocyte morphology, gene expression, matrix formation, or cytoskeletal organization. Cells on all substrates assembled equivalent matrices, which may have subsequently regulated cell behavior. In cultures with ascorbate, populations of round and spread cells emerged after 1 week, with round cells expressing collagen type II and the differentiated phenotype and spread cells dedifferentiating. In cultures without ascorbate, chondrocytes rapidly adhered and spread onto organized fibronectin matrices via the α5β1 integrin, which has been associated with survival and proliferation of chondrocytes in vitro. These findings indicate that expanding chondrocytes on protein monolayers may not be an effective solution to preventing dedifferentiation and improving autologous chondrocyte transplantation.