Matrixmetalloproteinases and cell migration in colonized, decellularized cartilage scaffolds

Matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in tissue remodeling in many physiological and pathological processes and influence the migration and proliferation of various cell types. In tissue engineering (TE) cell migration (CM) into the carrier material and subsequent proliferation and matrix production are essential for the development of stable cartilage tissue. The role of MMPs in CM in cartilage TE is unclear to date.

Therefore, we investigated the involvement of MMP-1, -3, -9, -13 in the CM of human septal chondrocytes (hSC) into decellularized porcine septal cartilage matrix (DECM) by immunohistochemical staining. For this purpose DECM colonized with hSC were cultivated in dynamic (DC, n=18) and static culture (SC, n=18) for 14, 28 and 42 days.

Already after 14 days all colonized scaffolds showed clear staining of MMP-9 and -13, the latter also staining in the cytoplasm of hSC. MMP-1 and MMP-3 did not stain. hSC migrated significantly better in DC than in SC, the detection of MMPs was comparable in both cultures, however. Native cartilage differed in that MMP-13 only stained in hSC but not in the DECM.

The stainings prove the synthesis of MMPs by newly seeded hSC. In contrast to nativ cartilage MMP-13 is actively secreted in colonized DECM. As hSC migrate better in DC than in SC, other important factors than MMP-13 seem to influence CM.

Poster-PDF A-1268.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021