chondroprogenitor

Chondroprogenitor cells are a population of multipotent progenitors capable of differentiating into chondrocytes, the cells that synthesize cartilage matrix. They are found in cartilage-associated tissues such as the perichondrium, the synovial membrane, articular cartilage itself, the menisci, and the growth plate, and are thought to contribute to cartilage growth and repair by supplying new chondrocytes during development and after injury.

Chondroprogenitors share features with mesenchymal stem cells, including the ability to proliferate and form colonies in culture, and to differentiate toward the chondrogenic lineage under appropriate signals. In many studies they are identified by colony-forming unit assays and by expression of progenitor or stem cell markers, with upregulation of chondrogenic genes such as SOX9, COL2A1, and ACAN during differentiation.

Compared with mesenchymal stem cells from other sources, chondroprogenitors are often more restricted to cartilage formation and may favor the production of hyaline cartilage under chondrogenic conditions, contributing to the integrity of the cartilage tissue rather than unrelated lineages.

Chondroprogenitors contribute to cartilage repair and are a focus of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. They can be isolated from articular cartilage or adjacent tissues after enzymatic digestion and expanded in vitro under chondrogenic conditions with factors such as TGF-β and BMPs. Age and disease can influence their numbers and functional capacity, as noted in osteoarthritis and aging cartilage.

Research aims to optimize isolation, expansion, and delivery of chondroprogenitors for therapeutic cartilage regeneration and repair.