Abstract:

Objective　To investigate the potential of synovial mesenchymal stem cells(SMSC) in osteogenic differentiation. Methods　SMSCwere obtained by limited dilutionmethod and expanded to culture in 25-milliliterflasks. The attached cellswere treated with inductive medium containing dexamethasone, glycerophosphate and vitamin C at 3rd passage SMSC. The mineralized nodule was stained byVonKossa method. The expression ofALP and osteopontinwere detected by histochemical, immunohistolog- ical staining technique, respectively, while the expression of cbfa1 mRNAby RT-PCR.Results　Pure SMSCwhichwere of spin- dle shape and star shape, uniform in size, could be induced to pleomorphism osteoblastin vitro, whichwere intensive positive in ALP and osteopontin. The expression of cbfa1 mRNAwere also verified by RT-PCR and the polygonal cells formed nodular struc- ture at 4 weeks. All these were coincidentwith the characters of osteoblast.Conclusion　SMSC can be purified and induced into osteoblastin vitro.

Key words: synovial membrane, mesenchymal stem cells, osteogenesis