Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Retain Their Adipocyte Differentiation Potential in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels and Bioreactors
Benjamen T. O'Donnell,
Sara Al-Ghadban,
Clara J. Ives,
Michael P. L'Ecuyer,
Tia A. Monjure,
Monica Romero-Lopez,
Zhong Li,
Stuart B. Goodman,
Hang Lin,
Rocky S. Tuan,
Bruce A. Bunnell
Affiliations
Benjamen T. O'Donnell
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Sara Al-Ghadban
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Clara J. Ives
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Michael P. L'Ecuyer
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Tia A. Monjure
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Monica Romero-Lopez
Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Zhong Li
Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Stuart B. Goodman
Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Hang Lin
Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Rocky S. Tuan
Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Bruce A. Bunnell
Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder with a significant economic and healthcare impact. The knee joint is composed of cartilage and the adjoining bone, a synovial capsule, the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP), and other connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Adipose tissue has recently been highlighted as a major contributor to OA through strong inflammation mediating effects. In this study, methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) constructs seeded with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and cultured in a 3D printed bioreactor were investigated for use in microphysiological systems to model adipose tissue in the knee joint. Four patient-derived ASC populations were seeded at a density of 20 million cells/mL in GelMA. Live/Dead and boron-dipyrromethene/4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (BODIPY/DAPI) staining of cells within the constructs demonstrated robust cell viability after 28 days in a growth (control) medium, and robust cell viability and lipid accumulation in adipogenic differentiation medium. qPCR gene expression analysis and protein analysis demonstrated an upregulated expression of key adipogenesis-associated genes. Overall, these data indicate that ASCs retain their adipogenic potential when seeded within GelMA hydrogels and cultured within perfusion bioreactors, and thus can be used in a 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study the role of the IPFP in the pathobiology of the knee OA.
