Extracellular Calcium Ion Concentration Regulates Chondrocyte Elastic Modulus and Adhesion Behavior.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular calcium ion concentration levels increase in human osteoarthritic (OA) joints and contribute to OA pathogenesis. Given the fact that OA is a mechanical problem, the effect of the extracellular calcium level ([Ca2+]) on the mechanical behavior of primary human OA chondrocytes remains to be elucidated. Here, we measured the elastic modulus and cell-ECM adhesion forces of human primary chondrocytes with atomic force microscopy (AFM) at different extracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]) levels. With the [Ca2+] level increasing from the normal baseline level, the elastic modulus of chondrocytes showed a trend of an increase and a subsequent decrease at the level of [Ca2+], reaching 2.75 mM. The maximum increment of the elastic modulus of chondrocytes is a 37% increase at t

SUBMITTER: Shen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8468569 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature