TGF- β Signalling is Suppressed under Pro-Hypertrophic Conditions in MSC Chondrogenesis Due to TGF- β Receptor Downregulation

Background and Objectives Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) become hypertrophic in long term despite chondrogenic differentiation following the pathway of growth plate chondrocytes. This terminal differentiation leads to phenotypically unstable cartilage and was mirrored in vitro by addition of hypertrophy inducing medium. We investigated how intrinsic TGF-β signaling is altered in pro-hypertrophic conditions.