Serum-free media and their uses for chondrocyte expansion

摘要

The present invention provides defined serum-free cell culture media useful inculturing fibroblasts, especially articular chondrocytes, that avoid problems inherentin the use of serum-containing media. The defined media comprise platelet-derived growthfactor (PDGF), chemically defined lipids, oncostatin M (OSM), interleukin-6 (IL-6),leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), or combinations of these compounds. In anotheraspect, the present invention also provides tissue culture methods that compriseincubating chondrocytes in the defined serum-free media. The methods enhanceattachment and proliferative expansion of chondrocytes seeded at low densitywhile maintaining their redifferentiation potential.