Expression of chondrogenic genes by undifferentiated vs. differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells using array technology

This study investigated the gene expression profile of human mesenchymal stem cells seeded in collagen sponge for 28 days in three different mediums: (1) basal medium as control containing ITS alone, (2) ITS+TGF-β1 alone or (3) ITS 1% supplemented sequentially by TGF-β1 (D3–D14) followed by BMP-2 (D15–D28). Differential expression of 84 genes implicated in chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was analyzed at D28 by real-time RT-PCR array technology. TGF-β1 alone down-regulated two genes, CD36 and cathepsin K. Sixteen genes were significantly up-regulated, notably type 2 and type 10 collagens, COMP and Sox9. The sequential combination of TGF-β1 and BMP-2 produced a similar profile with prominent expression of type 2 collagen and the alkaline phosphatase gene. Interestingly, in this in vitro condition, RUNX2 was not up-regulated, suggesting that the sequential combination of TGF-β1/BMP2 enhances the hypertrophic chondrogenic profile without turning towards the osteoblastic pathway.