Betaine enhances SCAPs chondrogenic differentiation and promotes cartilage repair in TMJOA through WDR81

Wang M, et al. · Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Betaine enhanced chondrogenic differentiation (via WDR81, lower ROS, improved mitochondrial membrane potential) and betaine-treated stem cells improved cartilage repair in the rat TMJ-OA model.

Population

Stem cells from apical papilla (in vitro) and a rat temporomandibular-joint OA model

Intervention

Betaine added during chondrogenic induction in vitro; in vivo, 5 mM betaine co-injected with the stem cells into the temporomandibular joint

Comparator

Untreated cells/animals

Limitations

Cell-therapy adjunct in rats, five per group, not oral supplementation; TMJ cartilage differs from knee articular cartilage; no human data.