Low-oxygen tension augments chondrocyte sensitivity to biomimetic thermomechanical cues in cartilage-engineered constructs.

ABSTRACT: Chondrocytes respond to various biophysical cues, including oxygen tension, transient thermal signals, and mechanical stimuli. However, understanding how these factors interact to establish a unique regulatory microenvironment for chondrocyte function remains unclear. Herein, we explore these interactions using a joint-simulating bioreactor that independently controls the culture's oxygen concentration, evolution of temperature, and mechanical loading. Our analysis revealed significant coupling between these signals, resulting in a remarkable ∼14-fold increase in collagen type II (COL2a) and aggrecan (ACAN) mRNA expression. Furthermore, dynamic thermomechanical stimulation enhanced glycosaminoglycan and COL2a protein synthesis, with the magnitude of the biosynthetic changes being oxygen de

SUBMITTER: Stampoultzis T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10432199 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature