Project leader : F. Mallein-Gerin
Participant : D. Vertu-Ciolino, M. Pasdeloup, J-D Malcor, J. Lafont, M. Bekhouche
Cell shape and the actin cytoskeleton controls the status of the chondrocyte phenotype. The expansion of chondrocytes in 2D cell culture is provides a large number of cells. The passaged chondrocytes are large, spread, and have actin organized into stress fibers. This cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization correspond in fact to a dedifferentiated state of the chondrocytes which no longer synthesize cartilage matrix proteins. This is in contrast to small, round primary chondrocytes which show cortical distribution of actin as in native cartilage. Interestingly, the embedding of chondrocytes in a 3D environment provokes actin depolymerization and cortical rearrangement. In this situation, the chondrocytes can re-express a differentiated phenotype. Polymerization of actin is regulated by the GTPase RhoA and the amount and activity of RhoA is dramatically downregulated when chondrocytes are embedded in 3D environment.
Therefore, 3D cell model systems combining chondrocytes and biomaterials like hydrogels support chondrogenesis and good cartilage matrix production. We use such 3D matrices to study the molecular mechanisms of chondrogenesis and to develop innovative tissue engineering protocols for cartilage repair (figure 1).
Selected publications :
1-Perrier-Groult E, Pérès E, Pasdeloup M, Gazzolo L, Duc Dodon M, Mallein-Gerin F. Evaluation of the biocompatibility and stability of allogeneic tissue-engineered cartilage in humanized mice. PLoS One. 2019 May 20;14(5):e0217183. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217183. eCollection 2019.
2- Dufour A, Buffier M, Vertu-Ciolino D, Disant F, Mallein-Gerin F, Perrier-Groult E. Combination of bioactive factors and IEIK13 self-assembling peptide hydrogel promotes cartilage matrix production by human nasal chondrocytes. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2019 Apr;107(4):893-903. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.36612. Epub 2019 Jan 31.
3- Mayer N, Lopa S, Talò G, Lovati AB, Pasdeloup M, Riboldi SA, Moretti M, Mallein-Gerin F. (2016) Interstitial Perfusion Culture with Specific Soluble Factors Inhibits Type I Collagen Production from Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes in Clinical-Grade Collagen Sponges. PLoS One. 1;11(9):e0161479. PMID: 27584727. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161479. eCollection 2016.
4- Perrier-Groult E, Pasdeloup M, Malbouyres M, Galéra P, Mallein-Gerin F. (2013) Control of collagen production in mouse chondrocytes by using a combination of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and small interfering RNA targeting col1a1 for hydrogel-based tissue-engineered cartilage. Tissue Eng. Part C. 19 : 652-664.
5- Durbec M, Mayer N, Vertu-Ciolino D, Disant F, Mallein-Gerin F, Perrier-Groult E. (2014) [Reconstruction of nasal cartilage defects using a tissue engineering technique based on combination of high-density polyethylene and hydrogel]. Pathol. Biol. 62 : 137-145.
Collaborations :
This project associates our group with the innovative platform 3dFab (Christophe Marquette) UMR CNRS 5246 and the Fédération d’Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie de Chirurgie Cervico-Maxillo-Faciale et d’Audiophonologie, Hôpital Edouard Herriot (Delphine Vertu-Ciolino).
