Does PromoCell offer a special 3-D system to block de-differentiation or does PromoCell have special culture conditions that stabilize the chondrocyte phenotype?

PromoCell Chondrocytes (HCH) can be expanded in normal monolayer culture using our Chondrocyte Growth Medium (C-27101). The Medium consists of an optimized formulation and is supplemented with 10 % FCS.

De-differentiation of chondrocytes is a known phenomenon observed during in vitro-culture after a period of approx. 2 weeks, but in vitro-culture is needed to expand the cells. Once a suitable cell number is obtained, the monolayer system can be changed to a more complex 3-D system either by culturing the cells on substrates like alginate beads, gels, or degradable polymer scaffolds or by using 3-D spheroid culture. Using appropriate conditions, re-differentiation is triggered and the cells start producing cartilage-specific ECM again.

PromoCell does not supply a special culture system but we use 3-D spheroid culture and Alcian Blue staining to characterize our chondrocytes during quality control. The protocol is very similar to the one we use for chondrogenic differentiation of MSC.