Abstract
Background aims. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are pluripotent adult stem cells capable of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis to form bone and cartilage. This characteristic gives them the potential for bone and cartilage regeneration. Synthetic polymers have been studied to examine whether they could be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering. In the current study a two-dimensional (2-D) poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffold was treated with chemokine, adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules with the aim of using biologic molecules to improve the attachment of human MSC. Methods. MSC were isolated from human bone marrow and applied to a 2-D PLLA scaffold. Chemokines ligand (CXCL12 and CXCL13), adhesion molecules [P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and heparin] and extracellular matrix molecules (fibronectin and type IV collagen) were coated on the scaffold and their effects on the number of MSC that adhered were recorded. Results. When used alone CXCL12 and CXCL13 enhanced MSC adhesion, as did VCAM-1, P-selectin, fibronectin and collagen, but not heparin. The effects of VCAM-1, P-selectin and heparin were enhanced by the addition of CXCL12. Incubation of MSC with antibodies to integrins α4 and α5β1 inhibited their adhesion to VCAM-1 and fibronectin-treated PLLA respectively, suggesting that these integrins were involved in the MSC interactions. Conclusions. The use of certain chemokines and adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules, alone or in combination, is beneficial for the attachment of MSC to PLLA, and may be helpful as natural molecules in scaffolds for regenerative medicine.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) and funding from the Institute of Orthopaedics, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry (UK). We wish to thank the orthopaedic surgeons and patients at the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital for providing the bone marrow tissue samples.
Disclosure of interest: There are no interests to be disclosed.