Transforming growth factor (TGF) family is well known to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). However, the precise signal transduction pathways and underlying factors are not well known. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the possible role of C2 domain in the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. To this end, 145 C2 domains in the adenovirus were individually transfected to hMSC, and morphological changes were examined. Among 145 C2 domains, C2 domain of protein kinase C eta (PKCη) was selected as a possible chondrogenic differentiation factor for hMSC. To confirm this possibility, we treated TGFβ3, a well known chondrogenic differentiation factor of hMSC, and examined the increased-expression of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), collagen type II (COL II) as well as PKCη using PT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. To further evaluation of C2 domain of PKCη, we examined morphological changes, expressions of GAG and COL II after transfection of PKCη -C2 domain in hMSC. Overexpression of PKCη-C2 domain induced morphological change and increased GAG and COL II expressions. The present results demonstrate that PKCη involves in the TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC, and C2 domain of PKCη has important role in this process.

• Bo Mi Ku(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) Both authors are equally contributed
• Young Phil Yune(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) Both authors are equally contributed
• Eun Shin Lee(Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Young-Sool Hah(Clinical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital)
• Jae Yong Park(Dept. of Physiology, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Yeon Jeong(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Dong Hoon Lee(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Gyeong Jae Cho(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Wan Sung Choi(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University)
• Sang Soo Kang(Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University) Corresponding Author