CHONDROCYTE CULTURE FORMULATIONS

摘要

The present invention provides methods and compositions for providing graft recipients with chondrocytes. Specifically, the methods and compositions of the invention provide for populations of chondrocytes that may be isolated from a patient and cultured in vitro to generate a proliferating population of chondrocytes that exhibit great proliferation capacity. The invention is based, in part, on the discovery of a culture medium having serum, insulin and various growth factors for culturing chondrocytes that exhibit increased proliferative capacity. The invention provides novel in vitro methods for culturing chondrocytes, including those isolated from the cartilage of a healthy subject, to generate a proliferating population of chondrocytes. The methods and compositions of the invention may be used for transplantation to treat patients having damaged cartilage.