Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 Increases the Trophic Effects of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Chondrocytes Isolated from Late Stage Osteoarthritic Patients

Figure 1

Coculture of MSCs and OA chondrocytes increases GAG formation and collagen biosynthesis with the presence of FGF18. (a) Toluidine blue staining was performed at week 4 after aggregation that was cultured in medium without FGF18 to detect GAGs. Scale bar = 100 μm. (b) Toluidine blue staining was performed at week 4 after aggregation that was cultured in medium containing FGF18 to detect GAGs. Scale bar = 100 μm. (c) GAG assay was performed to quantify GAG deposited in cell pellets () at week 4 after aggregation. Total GAGs (μg) were normalized to total DNA (μg). Error bar reflects standard deviation. values were calculated with Student’s -test. (d) Hydroxyproline assay was carried out to measure total collagen contents (). Total collagen (μg) was normalized to total DNA (μg). Error bar reflects standard deviation. values were calculated with Student’s -test. (e) Deposition of COL II in pellets was measured by ELISA (). COL II contents were normalized to total DNA. values were calculated with Student’s -test.

(a)

(b)

(c) GAG assay

(d) Collagen assay

(e) COL II ELISA