Isolation of human nasoseptal chondrogenic cells: A promise for cartilage engineering

► We isolated and characterized a cell population from human nasal septal cartilage. ► Cells dwell on cartilage surface, which correspond to perichondrium cambium layer. ► Cells showed a more restricted lineage potential compared to mesenchymal stem cells. ► Cells pellets extracellular matrix is rich in collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans. ► No growth factors are needed to promote cell chondrogenic differentiation.