Use of FGF-2 and FGF-18 to direct bone marrow stromal stem cells to chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages.

AIM: Intervertebral disc degeneration/low back pain is the number one global musculoskeletal condition in terms of disability and socioeconomic impact.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured in micromass pellets ± FGF-2 or -18 up to 41 days, matrix components were immunolocalized and gene expression monitored by quantitative-reverse transcription PCR.

RESULTS: Chondrogenesis occurred earlier in FGF-18 than FGF-2 cultures. Lower COL2A1, COL10A1 and ACAN expression by day 41 indicated a downregulation in chondrocyte hypertrophy. MEF2c, ALPL, were upregulated; calcium, decorin and biglycan, and 4C3 and 7D4 chondroitin sulphate sulfation motifs were evident in FGF-18 but not FGF-2 pellets.

CONCLUSION: FGF-2 and -18 preconditioned MSCs produced cell lineages which promoted chondrogenesis and osteogenesis and may be useful in the production of MSC lineages suitable for repair of cartilaginous tissue defects.