| Summary: | Extracellular matrix (ECM) is the extracellular component of animal tissue which plays a significant role not only to provide structural support but also stimulates various biological functions. Extracellular matrix proteins enable the dictation of cellular behavior in terms of proliferation, adhesion, migration or differentiation. Hence, it is an important factor in the reproduction of cells biological niches in vitro, which guides stem cells to differentiate into different tissue lineage. This study was done with the aim of determining their efficacy in encouraging cell growth and differentiation towards fibrochondrogenic lineage. Four ECM proteins namely fibronectin, collagen type I, gelatin and chondroitin sulfate were coated onto TCP plates where the hMSCs were seeded and subjected to complete DMEM supplemented with ascorbic acid for 2 weeks, followed by another 4 weeks of chondrogenic differentiation. The cells adhesion, spreading, proliferation, traction forces and their fibrochondrogenic markers were evaluated at different time-points. hMSCs cultured on collagen type I, fibronectin and gelatin coated-surfaces resulted in significant higher cell proliferation rate compared to the control (tissue culture polystyrene) at the end of 2 weeks. Besides that, the regulation of fibrochondrogenic markers varies differently between hMSCs grown on different matrix protein. For cell traction forces, Col1 surface was found to provide a more favorable environment for cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions throughout the 7 days of analysis. This study shows the influence of different ECM proteins on stem cells’ fate, and provides a platform for application of these matrix proteins in optimizing fibrochondrogenic tissues development within a scaffold.
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