OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of N-cadherin and fibronectin during chondrogenesis.

METHODSImmunohistochemical method and autibody induced changes of aggregation of cells were used to assay the expressions of N-cadherin and fibronectin during cell differentiation.

RESULTSThe N-cadherin was present in the area of the cell nodular area in the 24 hours group after adding chondrogenic revulsant, then there was a down-regulating trend. Fibronectin was expressed in 48 and 72 hours groups after adding chondrogenic revulsant, and showed to be negative afterward. The antibody against fibronectin or N-cadherin could inhibit the formation of cellular nodule markedly.

CONCLUSIONSCell adhesion factors play an important role during cell differentiation. TGF-beta(1) stimulates chondrogenesis via transition from an initial N-cadherin-contributing stage to a succedent fibronectin-contributing stage during the process of chondrogenesis in MSCs. Further study is needed to evaluate whether or not it can promote chondrogenesis by transfecting cDNA of CAMs to MSCs.