Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

08:09
Isolation of Chondrocytes and Chondroprogenitors Using Fibronectin Adhesion and Migratory Assay
Published on: October 4, 2024
Mechanical modulation of osteochondroprogenitor cell fate
Melissa L Knothe Tate1, Thomas D Falls, Sarah H McBride
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wickenden 307, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. knothetate@case.edu
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|July 16, 2008
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Mesenchymal cells build tissues and adapt their environment.
- Skeletal tissues offer mechanical support and organ protection.
- Mechanics influence cell fate during skeletal development and repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review the role of mechanical forces in skeletal development and repair.
- Integrate structure-function insights of mesenchymal stem cells.
- Discuss de novo tissue generation and clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on mechanics and cell fate.
- Analysis of mesenchymal condensation and cell differentiation.
- Comparison of intramembranous and endochondral ossification.
Main Results:
- Mechanics significantly impact cell fate determination in skeletal development.
- Mesenchymal stem cell mechanics influence tissue genesis and repair.
- Differences in osteogenic and chondrogenic condensations are linked to ossification types.
Conclusions:
- Mechanical cues are crucial for skeletal development and regeneration.
- Understanding cell mechanics can advance tissue engineering.
- Exploiting extrinsic cues offers new therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification
Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
Bone Remodeling
Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
Master Transcription Regulators
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
Bone Remodeling and Repair
Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
Bone Cells and Tissue
Bones contain a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of organic and inorganic components. Although bone cells compose only a small amount of the bone volume, they are crucial to its function. Four types of cells are found within the bone tissue— osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteogenic cells, and osteoclasts.
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
