Yam-Containing Serum Promotes Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Rabbit Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Synthesis of Glycosaminoglycan

The chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is affected by a variety of factors, including environmental, physical, and chemical factors and growth factors, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations can further influence this process. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of Yam-containing serum of rabbits on BMSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were investigated, as were the underlying molecular mechanisms. The growth and proliferation of BMSCs were significantly enhanced upon treatment with Yam-containing serum. Under both monolayer and micromass culture conditions, Yam-containing serum promoted the differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes. Toluidine blue staining results revealed that chondrocyte differentiation in the group treated by Yam-containing serum was significantly more pronounced than in the control group. Glycosaminoglycan levels, as measured by 1,2-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) detection, were significantly higher in cells of the Yam-containing group relative to the control group. This is the first study to our knowledge that demonstrates that Yam-containing serum can promote BMSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation. This study therefore lays an experimental groundwork for further application of TCM as a means of treating degenerative cartilage diseases and provides an experimental and theoretical basis for the combination of TCM and stem cells for the treatment of such diseases.