METHOD FOR PREPARING PELLETS OF CHONDROCYTES FROM HUMAN INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS, AND USE THEREOF

The present application claims priority for Korean patent application No. 10-2018-0072875 filed on June 25, 2018, the entire description of which is a reference for the present application. The present invention relates to a method for preparing chondrocyte pellets, comprising the steps of: (a) culturing human induced pluripotent stem cells so as to form and obtain embryoid bodies; (b) inducing the embryonic bodies obtained in step (a) to become outgrowth cells and isolating same; and (c) culturing the outgrowth cells isolated in step (b) in a pellet form. In addition, the present invention relates to: a pharmaceutical composition to be used in the treatment of arthritis, comprising the chondrocyte pellets prepared by the preparation method; or a method for preventing or treating arthritis, comprising a step of administering the chondrocyte pellets prepared by the method to an arthritis patient. Chondrocyte pellets of the present invention have a remarkably high rate of differentiation into chondrocytes, have a uniform size, and have a homogeneous differentiation degree, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating arthritis, comprising same, has an excellent cartilage regeneration effect when administered to the site of cartilage damage, and is in an injectable form, which does not require surgery, such that through a simple procedure, the pain of a patient is relieved and a continuous arthritis treatment effect can be provided even after the procedure.