biostudies-literatureUnknown4(1)Timmermans RGM<h4>Objective</h4>Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology, studying the interaction between intrinsic molecular changes in chondrocytes after hyper-physiological mechanical stress (MS) and aberrant signalling of OA risk genes remains a challenge. In this study we set out to set up an <i>in vitro</i> 3D neo cartilage pellet model that enables us to explore the responses of OA risk genes to hyper-physiological MS.<h4>Design</h4>Human primary chondrocyte neo-cartilage pellets were exposed for 2 days to 2 ​× ​10 ​min of hyper-physiological dynamic MS attained by a 20% strain and a frequency of 5 ​Hz. In order to assess cartilage damage, sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content in the neo-cartilage was quantified using Alcian blue staining and a dimethylOsteoarthritis and cartilage open100231https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9718246biostudies-literatureA human <i>in vitro</i> 3D neo-cartilage model to explore the response of OA risk genes to hyper-physiological mechanical stress.PMC9718246Tuerlings MRamos YFMTimmermans RGMBloks NGCMeulenbelt Ivan Hoolwerff Mvan der Wal RJPvan den Bosch MHJNelissen RGHHBlom ABvan der Kraan PMfalseA human <i>in vitro</i> 3D neo-cartilage model to explore the response of OA risk genes to hyper-physiological mechanical stress.<h4>Objective</h4>Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology, studying the interaction between intrinsic molecular changes in chondrocytes after hyper-physiological mechanical stress (MS) and aberrant signalling of OA risk genes remains a challenge. In this study we set out to set up an <i>in vitro</i> 3D neo cartilage pellet model that enables us to explore the responses of OA risk genes to hyper-physiological MS.<h4>Design</h4>Human primary chondrocyte neo-cartilage pellets were exposed for 2 days to 2 ​× ​10 ​min of hyper-physiological dynamic MS attained by a 20% strain and a frequency of 5 ​Hz. In order to assess cartilage damage, sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content in the neo-cartilage was quantified using Alcian blue staining and a dimethyl2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2026-05-29T04:34:49.395Z2025-04-06T14:07:24.781ZS-EPMC97182463647446810.1016/j.ocarto.2021.100231