Chondrogenesis from mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue on the fibrin scaffold

The purpose of this study was to answer the question whether adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs) are equal to bone marrow derived MSC (BMMSCs) regarding cartilage forming potential. BMMSCs were obtained from the medullary canal of femur and ATMSCs were isolated from liposuction procedures. MSCs were cultured in fibrin scaffold with chondrogenic medium for 4 weeks, then Safranin-O staining and immunohistochemical staining for type II collagen were performed to test chondrogenesis. The general appearance of BMMSC cultured in fibrin gel looked more like chondrocytes than ATMSCs. The amount of proteoglycan as shown by Safranin-O staining was greater in BMMSCs than in ATMSCs. The intensity of type II collagen immunohistochemical staining also was greater in BMMSCs than in ATMSCs. The results of our study suggest that the ATMSCs may have inferior potential in chondrogenesis compared with the BMMSCs, and cast doubts on the value of adipose tissue as a source of MSC although further investigation including in vivo implantation study are necessary to corroborate our results.