Majid Pourentezari - Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Zynolabedin Sharifian - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Mohammad Mardani - Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Ali Valiani - Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mohammad Zamani Rarani - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Mohsen Setayesh Mehr - Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Advanced Medical Technology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Fatemeh Eini - Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Batul Hashemibeni - Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Objective(s): Avocado/soybean unsaponifible (ASU) possesses properties including chondroprotective, anticatabolic, and anabolic. The goal behind this research was to detect the effect of ASU and TGF-β3 on the chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) on poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)/ hyaluronic acid (PLGA/HA) hybrid scaffold.Materials and Methods: First hADSCs were seeded in PLGA/Hyaluronic acid scaffold and cultured in chondrogenic media. These cells were assigned into 4 groups: control, TGFβ-3, ASU, and TGFβ-3+ASU. The viability was assessed separately by MTT. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the expression of chondrogenic specific genes [Sox9, collagen type II (ColII), Aggrecan (AGG)] and collagen type X (ColX). Moreover, Western blotting was employed to evaluate protein expression levels of collagens type II and X.Results: These findings indicated a significant increase in the proliferation and survival of hADSCs differentiated cells by ASU compared with the control group (P=0.008). Real-time PCR results revealed significant differences in the expression of AGG, SOX9, ColII, and ColX genes in the control group when compared with other groups (ASU, TGF-β3, and TGF-β3+ASU). ColII protein production significantly dropped in the TGF-β3 group in comparison with the TGF-β3+ASU group (0.000). The ColII (P=0.002) and ColX (P=0.002) protein production proved significantly higher in the TGF-β3+ASU group compared with the ASU group.Conclusion: Using the synergist form TGFβ-3, ASU induces chondrogenesis in hADSCs in PLGA/HA composite scaffold. This can be deduced with reduction of special markers of hyaline cartilage in comparison with ASU and decreased hypertrophic marker compared with TGF-β3.

Avocado soybean Chondrogenesis Human adipose, derived stem cells Hyaluronic acid Poly (lactic, co, glycolic acid) Transforming growth factor beta Unsaponifiable