Mesenchymal stem cells, Gotthard's seminar from the University of Pittsburgh

"Loads, structure and signaling in models of joint regeneration" the theme of the lesson in UCBM

5 December 2017 - Promoted by the Orthopedics and Traumatology Research Unit ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, the seminar by Riccardo Gottardi, Assistant Professor of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, took place on November 30th. He illustrated his current studies on the development of innovative bioreactors capable of analyzing the physiopathology and reproducing the morphology of osteochondral tissue.

A first study focuses on the analysis of the role of mechanical load and shear stress on mesenchymal stem cells in a model of focal osteochondral damage: the current therapeutic approach makes use of the execution of microfractures of the subchondral bone which favor the outcrop of mesenchymal stem cells from the underlying bone marrow and the reconstitution of fibrocartilage, which promotes the regression of painful symptoms but does not possess the mechanical characteristics of the original hyaline cartilage. 

The preliminary results of the study show how early loading can favor the differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes capable of producing a cartilage matrix more similar to native tissue rather than fibrocartilage, offering interesting cues for the reorientation of rehabilitation therapy after this type of treatment .

A more substantial line of research instead concerns a bioreactor capable of reproducing the morphology of the osteochondral junction allowing, at the same time, to maintain a clear division between the bone and cartilaginous compartments and, consequently, to be able to study the role of specific conditions or molecules on one of the two tissues and observe how one affects the other. The development of such a device allowed Dr. Gottardi to create a model that allows to study the complexity of the triphasic cartilage-bone-vessel interface and related pathologies, in particular osteoarthritis.

In addition, recently the bioreactor of dr. Gottardi was selected by a NASA spin-off organization as a model to be used for the study of osteoporotic pathology aboard the International Space Station. Since the osteoporotic process is tremendously accelerated by the absence of gravitational force in space, the bioreactor will allow to highlight aspects of the pathology that are not yet known or that can only be highlighted over a longer period of time in terrestrial laboratories.