Stiffened fibre-like microenvironment based on patterned equidistant micropillars directs chondrocyte hypertrophy.

ABSTRACT: Articular cartilage, composed of collagen type II as a major extracellular matrix and chondrocyte as a unique cell type, is a specialized connective tissue without blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves. This distinctive characteristic of articular cartilage determines its very limited ability to repair when damaged. It is well known that physical microenvironmental signals regulate many cell behaviors such as cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation and cell communication even determine chondrocyte fate. Interestingly, with increasing age or progression of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA), the major collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage become larger in diameter, leading to stiffening of articular tissue and reducing its resistance to external

SUBMITTER: Duan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10251154 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature