Comparison of stem cell characteristics between perichondral-derived stem cells and periosteal stem cells in postnatal rats

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), periosteal stem cells (PSCs), and other bone stem cells originate from embryonic bone formation, but their function and stem cell characteristics such as proliferation ability and differentiation ability change at different anatomical locations. Perichondral-derived stem cells (PCSCs) are more closely related to PSCs in origin and function, usually used to be studied together with PSCs as one type of stem cell. However, this leads to the ignoration of the PCSCs' characteristics. Since the anatomical locations of these two types of stem cells diverse, PCSCs should have some differences from PSCs. In this study, the PCSCs in the perichondrium surrounding the growth plate cartilage expressed CTSK and CD200 same as PSCs. However, when compared the stem cell characteristics of PCSCs with that of PSCs, PCSCs were more elongated than PSCs in morphology and have stronger self-renewal ability, as well as stronger chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation potentials. This study revealed the stem cell characteristics of PCSCs distinguished from PSCs, which may indicate PCSCs and PSCs should not be treated as one type of cell to research in the future.