Chondrogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells (MPCs) from Different Connective Tissues

Introduction Research in regenerative medicine is developing at a significantly quick pace. Cell-based cartilage implant is an evolving therapy aiming at the treatment of patients who suffer from cartilage-related disorders. Mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) possess high proliferative potential and can differentiate into several mesenchymal lineages, including bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, and stromal tissue [1]. Initially identified in the bone marrow (BM), these cells have subsequently been found in trabecular bone, adipose tissue, synovial tissue, tendon, muscle and other adult tissues. Chondrogenic differentiation of the MPCs from different tissues has been reported individually. However, the variation of chondrogenic ability has not been compared among different tissues. It is not clear which kind of tissue MPCs have the superiority for cartilage repairing. In our experiments, chondrogenic differentiation MPCs from was compared among cartilage, tendon, ligament, synovium, adipose and synovial fluid.