Use of Chondroitin Sulphate to Aid In Vitro Stem Cell Differentiation

Chondroitin sulphate (CS) has essential roles to play in the stem cell niche with regard to stem cell differentiation and the attainment of pluripotency. The sulphation status of CS is an important determinant of its functional properties, and this parameter has been used in innovative bioscaffold design to direct the differentiation of stem cells in culture. The intrinsic charge properties of CS determine its interactive properties with extracellular matrix (ECM) components, growth factors, cytokines, and morphogens regulating the growth and differentiation of the resident stem cell populations. Stem cells express cell surface proteoglycans decorated with CS sulphation motifs identified by the monoclonal antibodies 4-C-3, 7-D-4 and 3-B-3(−). These CS sulphation motifs occur at many important centres/interfaces of growth and differentiation in tissue morphogenesis during the development of a wide range of connective tissues. The 3-B-3(−) sulphation epitope is a non-reducing terminal CS epitope generated by HYAL4 produced by mast cells. Stem cells also generate the 3-B-3(−) epitope. A greater understanding of the interactive properties of the aforementioned CS sulphation motifs with ECM components, growth factors and morphogenetic proteins will be insightful as to how stem cells control and interact with their tissue environment to regulate tissue development and tissue homeostasis.