1. Academic Validation
  2. A stem cell-based approach to cartilage repair

A stem cell-based approach to cartilage repair

  • Science. 2012 May 11;336(6082):717-21. doi: 10.1126/science.1215157.
Kristen Johnson 1 Shoutian Zhu Matthew S Tremblay Joshua N Payette Jianing Wang Laure C Bouchez Shelly Meeusen Alana Althage Charles Y Cho Xu Wu Peter G Schultz
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. kjohnson@gnf.org
Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that involves the destruction of articular cartilage and eventually leads to disability. Molecules that promote the selective differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into chondrocytes may stimulate the repair of damaged cartilage. Using an image-based high-throughput screen, we identified the small molecule kartogenin, which promotes chondrocyte differentiation (median effective concentration = 100 nM), shows chondroprotective effects in vitro, and is efficacious in two OA animal models. Kartogenin binds filamin A, disrupts its interaction with the transcription factor core-binding factor β subunit (CBFβ), and induces chondrogenesis by regulating the CBFβ-RUNX1 transcriptional program. This work provides new insights into the control of chondrogenesis that may ultimately lead to a stem cell-based therapy for osteoarthritis.

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