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Oscillatory fluid flow affects human marrow stromal cell proliferation and differentiation
Ying Jun Li1, Nikhil N Batra, Lidan You
1Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center, CA 94304, USA. yingli@rrdmail.stanford.edu
Summary
Mechanical loading influences bone health. Oscillatory fluid flow (OFF) stimulates marrow stromal cells (MSCs) to increase proliferation and specific gene expression, suggesting MSCs are mechanosensitive.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Mechanical loading is crucial for bone remodeling, regulating bone formation and loss.
- Reduced osteoblast numbers and function are key cellular events in bone loss due to mechanical disuse.
- The impact of physical stimuli on osteoprogenitor cells at the cellular level remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of oscillatory fluid flow (OFF), a mechanical loading stimulus, on marrow stromal cells (MSCs).
- To explore the role of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in the mechanotransduction pathway of MSCs.
Main Methods:
- Subjecting MSCs to OFF, a form of mechanical loading.
- Measuring intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.
- Assessing mRNA levels of key bone-related genes (osteopontin, osteocalcin, Collagen I, core binding factor 1).
- Evaluating alkaline phosphatase activity.
Main Results:
- OFF induced increased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in MSCs.
- MSCs exposed to OFF showed enhanced proliferation and increased mRNA expression for osteopontin and osteocalcin.
- Collagen I and core binding factor 1 mRNA levels remained unchanged.
- Alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in MSCs subjected to OFF.
Conclusions:
- Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are mechanosensitive, responding to oscillatory fluid flow (OFF).
- Calcium (Ca2+) signaling likely plays a role in mediating the cellular responses of MSCs to mechanical stimuli.
- OFF influences MSC proliferation and differentiation markers, impacting bone formation regulation.