Chondroitin sulfates, along with other glycosaminoglycans, are major components in the articular cartilage that are present in the extracellular matrix as side chains on proteoglycan molecules, where they play important roles, such as binding to growth factors and cell-to-cell signaling. In this study, soluble chondroitin sulfates were tested for their effects as medium additives or coating materials on the chondrocytic induction from mesenchymal stem cells on artificial scaffold composed of type II collagen. Cell proliferation, extra-cellular matrix production and various gene expressions were determined from cultures in different media consist of different amount and different molecular weights of chondroitin sulfates. It was found chondrocytic-like cells were successfully induced and that short-chain chondroitin sulfates were able to promote appropriate gene expressions more than blank and high molecular weight ones.

Extended Abstract Status: Not Uploaded