Abstract
Biomechanical stimulation enhances cell proliferation, cell differentiation and production of extracellular matrix. To what extent the gene expression of three articular cell types is affected by a defined biomechanical stimulus was examined in this study. Fibrochondrocytes, articular chondrocytes and osteoblasts were obtained from tissues that were removed during total knee replacement surgery. ...
Abstract
Biomechanical stimulation enhances cell proliferation, cell differentiation and production of extracellular matrix. To what extent the gene expression of three articular cell types is affected by a defined biomechanical stimulus was examined in this study. Fibrochondrocytes, articular chondrocytes and osteoblasts were obtained from tissues that were removed during total knee replacement surgery. Cells were seeded on BioFlexA (R) culture plates for 3 days. Following 3 days biomechanical loading in form of continuous tensile strain was applied to the cells for 4 and 24 hours and gene expression was analyzed using real-time PCR. 4 hours of biomechanical loading significantly up-regulated BMP2, COL1A1 and SOX9 gene expression in fibrochondrocytes and significantly inhibited VEGF gene expression. The expression of COL1A1 and SOX9 was significantly increased after 24 hours of biomechanical loading. When articular chondrocytes were exposed to biomechanical loading for 4 hours the expression of SOX9 and VEGF was significantly increased above control levels. 4 hours of biomechanical loading significantly induced gene expression of COL1A1 in osteoblasts. Biomechanical loading affected the gene expression pattern in all investigated cell types. However, the most anabolic effect of biomechanical forces was observed on fibrochondrocytes.
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