SALKIN, Hasan2025-03-092025-03-0920240377-9777https://doi.org/10.5505/TurkHijyen.2024.08624https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/tr/yayin/detay/1284902https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12662/4959Objective: Some changes in genes, protein, and function in chondrocytes can cause them to develop into a fibroblastic morphology. Our study aims to transform chondrocytes in monolayer cultures into a mesenchymal stem cell-like immunophenotype by inducing chondrocyte de-differentiation with recombinant basic-fibroblast growth factor (FGF-b) supplementation. Methods: In our study, chondrocytes were obtained from Erciyes University Genome and Stem Cell Center as ready-made cell lines. Chondrocytes grown on a standard medium were used as the control group. An experimental group was formed by adding recombinant basic FGF at a concentration of 5 ng/ml to the normal growth medium. MSC-specific surface markers expressions such as CD271, CD166, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 were compared between groups by flow cytometry. “Muse Annexin-V assay kit” and “Muse Count and viability kit” were used according to the production procedure to compare apoptosis and viability data between groups. Colony-forming potentials in chondrocytes were determined by Colony-forming units-fibroblast assay. Statistical analyzes were performed using the statistics software GraphPad Prism (version 8.02). Data with P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The addition of recombinant basic-FGF to chondrocyte cultures reduced the percentage of total apoptosis in chondrocytes and increased viability. Our flow cytometry findings showed a significant increase in the expression of MSC-specific surface markers CD105, CD90, CD166, and CD271 in recombinant basic-FGF-treated chondrocytes. On the other hand, a decrease was observed in CD29 and CD73 expressions. There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of CD44 expression. Conclusion: In conclusion, the addition of recombinant basic-FGF to chondrocyte cultures decreased the percentage of total apoptosis in chondrocytes and increased viability. Our flow cytometry findings showed a significant increase in the expression of MSC-specific surface markers CD105, CD90, CD166, and CD271 in recombinant basic-FGF-treated chondrocytes. The increase in these MSC key markers suggests that recombinant basic FGF may induce chondrocyte differentiation at the level of MSC phenotype. In this study, we hypothesized that recombinant basic FGF might be an effective growth factor in the differentiation of chondrocytes into MSC immunophenotype. De-differentiation of chondrocytes to the MSC immunophenotype by recombinant basic-FGF may render these cells more effective and potential for chondrocyte implantation for regenerative medicine in cartilage damage such as osteoarthritis (OA) or other joint disorders. © (2024), (Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency (RSNPHA)). All rights reserved.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessapoptosisapoptozChondrocytede-diferansiyasyonde-differentiationfibroblast büyüme faktörüfibroblast growth factorKondrositmesenchymal stem cellsmezenkimal kök hücrelerArticle10.5505/TurkHijyen.2024.086242-s2.0-852126568714084Q4399128490281