Dynamic Compressive Loading and Crosslinking Density Influence the Chondrogenic and Hypertrophic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded in Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels

While hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels provide a stable 3D environment that is conducive to the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the presence of growth factors [1], the neocartilage that is formed remains inferior to native tissue, even after long culture durations. Additionally, MSCs eventually transit into a hypertrophic phenotype after chondrogenic induction, resulting in the calcification of the ECM after ectopic transplantation [2]. From a material design perspective, variation in the HA hydrogel scaffold crosslinking density via changes in the HA macromer concentration can influence chondrogenesis of MSCs and neocartilage formation [3]. Recent studies have also demonstrated that dynamic compression enhances the expression of chondrogenic markers and cartilage matrix synthesis by MSCs encapsulated in various hydrogels, including agarose [4], alginate [5] and fibrin [6]. Furthermore, mechanical signals also regulate growth plate and articular cartilage chondrocyte hypertrophy via the IHH-PTHrP (India hedgehog, Parathyroid hormone-related protein) pathway [7]. In contrast to biologically inert scaffold materials, HA is capable of interacting with cells (including MSCs) via cell surface receptors (CD44, CD54, and CD168) [8; 9]. Therefore the objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of both hydrogel crosslinking and dynamic compressive loading on (i) chondrogenesis and cartilage matrix production/distribution of human MSCs encapsulated in HA gels and (ii) hypertrophic differentiation of human MSCs using an in vitro MSC hypertrophy model [10].